The Merciless IV: Last Rites

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The fourth book of the scream-worthy cult series The Merciless combines Stephen King-level terror with true crime stories like the Amanda Knox case.

The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard's wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She's trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley's captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her--drive the devil away and cleanse her soul--but will she make it out alive?

When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, the last thing she expected was that she'd end up fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous-yet-alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway. But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to undo everything. As she's forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.
"What started as a fun, Italian vacation becomes a hair-raising and pulse-pounding fight for Berkley’s life. As with other “Merciless” books, Vega brings a gleeful mean girl violence to the prose. Things between Berkley and her friends Harper and Mara are in trouble long before the epilogue, but the slow dissolution of their friendship paired with Berkley’s burgeoning relationship with Giovanni makes for a fun read. The book is not for the faint of heart; a particular description of a rat gnawing on someone told from a first-person perspective comes to mind, but it’s a delightfully horrific read for teens who love the macabre."--School Library Journal
Danielle Vega spent her childhood hiding under the covers while her mother retold tales from the pages of Stephen King novels. Now an adult, she can count on one hand the number of times in her life she's been afraid. Danielle is the author of the Merciless series and Survive the Night. Follow her @dvegabooks. View titles by Danielle Vega

About

The fourth book of the scream-worthy cult series The Merciless combines Stephen King-level terror with true crime stories like the Amanda Knox case.

The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard's wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She's trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley's captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her--drive the devil away and cleanse her soul--but will she make it out alive?

When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, the last thing she expected was that she'd end up fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous-yet-alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway. But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to undo everything. As she's forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.

Reviews

"What started as a fun, Italian vacation becomes a hair-raising and pulse-pounding fight for Berkley’s life. As with other “Merciless” books, Vega brings a gleeful mean girl violence to the prose. Things between Berkley and her friends Harper and Mara are in trouble long before the epilogue, but the slow dissolution of their friendship paired with Berkley’s burgeoning relationship with Giovanni makes for a fun read. The book is not for the faint of heart; a particular description of a rat gnawing on someone told from a first-person perspective comes to mind, but it’s a delightfully horrific read for teens who love the macabre."--School Library Journal

Author

Danielle Vega spent her childhood hiding under the covers while her mother retold tales from the pages of Stephen King novels. Now an adult, she can count on one hand the number of times in her life she's been afraid. Danielle is the author of the Merciless series and Survive the Night. Follow her @dvegabooks. View titles by Danielle Vega