“Corrupt” by Penelope Douglas

“Corrupt” is a book which defines every feeling. Every line and every moment made me feel alive. “Corrupt” was the kind of book I would become addicted to: danger, darkness and loyalty. The feeling in the guts, the things that seem forbidden and unknown.

Title: “Corrupt” (#1)

Series: “Devil’s Night”

Author: Penelope Douglas

Number of pages: 518

Recommended age: +18

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐

Sneak peek

“𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

Rika couldn’t become friend with the Four Horsemen and not get into trouble. When the adrenaline is pumping your blood and they take their masks on… the game is only about to begin. “They were here. The Four Horsemen.” Damon Torrance, Kai Mori, Will Grayson III and Michael Crist.

“𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥’𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

The Four Horsemen

The idea of bonding four rich and disturbed boys, making them the fright of a whole city was impressing and… tempting. They seemed rebel and free, As Rika said, everyone knew about them, but no one was brave enough to stop them. It was the feeling of freedom and the minutes of lack of care that gave them power. They knew they were invincible. Even if everybody hid a fright of them, they were still expecting them impatiently. The Devil’s Night. The time when they would return.

It’s absolutely sure they had no fears, but were feared. Nevertheless, their masks were the ones which gave them the allure of danger. Of unknown. They were so close, but yet so far.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

Everyone wanted what they had. They just had the courage to take what was theirs. To do whatever they wanted. Who was going to stop them? They were inspiring, in a confusing but yet so deep way. They were an inspiration of independence and emotional freedom. To be clear, I completely discourage their behavior and actions shown in the book!

Get the essence from their characters. They believed in themselves, their inside power being untouchable. The Four Horsemen were deeply loyal to the ones they loved. They also freed themselves by being self confident and the masters of their own lives. I don’t think they would’ve gone that far with their actions. The fact that nobody knew their limits was actually their frightening feature.

“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐠𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

For the ones who haven’t read the book, the Four Horsemen were untouchable and rebel, but they were not some lunatics. They did not hurt anyone innocent, they protected the ones they loved and cared about. Even so, don’t forget, they took every chance to take revenge when someone messed with them.

“𝐀𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

A part of the overview

Erika Fane wanted to be like them. To be part of the Horsemen. She used to be a people pleaser. Technically a Muppet in her own life. Rika was stuck in a life she didn’t choose for herself. Her wealth was for nothing when her world seemed to turn upside down. Her dad died, her mother befriended the pills and everyone pushed her and Trevor together. Rika wanted to get away somehow. Maybe she did not know the certain way, but she found herself burning from curiosity and an inside flame that encouraged her to take some risks. Everything was telling us that Rika was more than she seemed.

When Rika was given the chance to spend Devil’s Night with the Four Horsemen, she took it. She did not just observe and admire them, she desired to be with them. Treated as an equal. She was thought about as the girl who wouldn’t ever dare to speak up and stay out of the line. Guess what? The quiet ones are the unexpected ones. Michael saw her as she truly was. He found a part of himself in her nature. The need and desire of defying. The power of being feared.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠.

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

Her relationship with each of the Horsemen was fully entertaining. When the vibe felt off… Honey, it was just the quiet before the storm! Damon absolutely hated her, since Rika became a threat for the Four Horsemen’ friendship, as he thought. Excepting the fact that she wasn’t. Erika made them stronger, she was the tight knot of their bonding. Beside her relation with Michael, she helped Kai and supported him. They were really good friends and I really loved their vibe as a trio.

Most of the time, Rika’s character was heart whelming. Her thirst of unknown. Nevertheless, it was only a character. Guys, be aware that it is just a book series. So you should not ship this kind of characters also in real life. Violent (sometimes), stubborn and dangerous as the Four Horsemen. Blindly trustful, no matter the circumstances are, as Rika. Just keep some boundaries stable!

Getting back to the story, the boys caused Rika rough pain through her time in Meridian City. They destroyed everything her past meant, making her feel hostage in her own life. No one to run to, no way to run. With threats and betrayals, this book makes you shake at every read word.

“𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 – 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

Full potential

Michael told Rika he saw something in her. Something he also felt in himself. The desire of freedom. The need of getting rid of everything they were told it would be true. It was all a lie. They grew up in perfect (in appearance) households, but which insides stunk. They made sure those values would not be inherited.

The boy tried to make Rika get out of her comfort zone. To reach her full potential. He was right, in the end. She needed to stop being a people pleaser. To stop staying unmoved in the place in which Crist family needed her.

Michael couldn’t stand his family for making plans on the girl’s money and life. She was nothing more than a pew in their vision upon future. Michael hated Trevor, his younger brother. He kept pushing Rika farther and farther over the years. Only to try and marry her somewhen in the future. He and their father had the whole plan already settled.

The moment when Michael took out the whole light in the house was mysterious and really well written. In theory, it wasn’t necessarily an Oscar sequence, but the vibe and the atmosphere as an overview made my heart jump in my chest. She liked being scared… so he made sure she would have the most terrific time of her life:) I could feel the tension and connection… through eyes. Loved it:)

Little aspects

The time parallel between the characters’ common past and their present was genuinely amazing! We got to see more and more new things. The effect and only then the reason behind the action. Everything had its roots and no action was motiveless. It gave the book so much meaning, complexity and diversity. As we went deeper into the story, the situation became rougher and rougher. Just fairly incredible for the story and its readers, hungry for intensity.

The narration was mesmerizing. The story was told from dual perspective. We got to know Michael’s vision upon the story and the important moments, and Rika’s, as well. From the very beginning, it was a huge green flag for me to discover it was a dual perspective story. Just getting to know all the details, too fascinating to be missed:)

Sweet revenge

Being together on Devil’s Night, three years ago, Rika saw the two people that almost changed her life. And whom were never punished for their actions. She told the Four Horsemen what had happened to her. Nevertheless, they had never been punished, because there were more important business relations in the game.

She was there, facing them and remembering everything, with quite all the details playing behind her eyes. Rika told the Four Horsemen about her suffering. Rika was Michael’s female version: a leader. She would’ve risked her skin for them and they would’ve returned her favor.

She walked in like she ruled the place. The Four Horsemen had Rika’s back. They protected her and gave her a taste of the addictive revenge. They cared about her and were willing to hurt for her. I don’t know many who would’ve helped Rika like that. To win back her dignity.

Rika became part of them back on that night. She was young, but crazy. Breathing fire was hiding inside her soul. She was vigilant and a great friend. Loyal to some strangers she admired and who supported her when no one did.

A mind-sick game

Erika was thought to have betrayed the Four Horsemen. For three years, while being in prison. the boys complotted to get revenge on her. They left her broken, isolated and at their mercy. But they were absolutely wrong. More complicated plot twists occurred on the way. I’ll let you find more on your own:)

The way music was blasting

I absolutely loved the playlist of the book! I’m not used to listening to this kind of music, but it literally matched the vibe. You feel fearless and invincible. Rebel and unstoppable. It’s the scream you kept hidden for too long in your gut. I can’t stop listening to it! Whenever I hear a particular song, I still remember exactly the sequence which I was reading then.

Two tied souls

They two were both crazy and completed each other. Michael and Rika had some crazy and full of irony and strategy games that left me mind blown. The replies are also so cool and… they have everything: humor, love, vulnerability and strategy. 🙂 A couple of leaders.

“𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

They intended to create their own world. A kingdom they would rule together. Where they wouldn’t be told again what to do or how to live. They were so great together. Unbeatable! They found each other and became stronger together. Michael softened himself, indeed, but for love and Rika, the one for who he would kill and risk everything. She was his biggest desire even from childhood.

“Corrupt”

Kai told Michael, as he strongly believed, that he corrupted Rika. He made her achieve her true potential. Become unstoppable. Maybe it is not a big deal, but it was for me. He was believed to be the one who taught her to live for herself. To make the choice she was the most afraid of. But it was her who corrupted him. Back in their childhood, Rika was the one who advised him to start doing the things in his way.

To defy his father and take his life in his own hands. To make sure he felt the breathy freedom which he dreamt of. That moment has always been the reason of the Four Horsemen’ existence. Michael came with the idea, but Rika was the one who inspired it.

“𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝?”

“Corrupt”, Penelope Douglas

I absolutely love how she was portrayed as a pure feminine and independent woman. Michael was the leader, but he would’ve become only stronger with this kind of powerful woman behind.

The order of “Devil’s Night” series

“Corrupt” (#1)

“Hideaway” (#2) – Read here the review

“Kill Switch” (#3) – Read here the review

“Conclave” (#3.5)

“Nightfall” (#4) – Read here the review

“Fire Night” (#4.5)

As far as I know, the series is complete and no spin off was yet announced. An interesting fact which connects this series and the other Penelope Douglas book, “Punk 57”, is the family relating between Will Grayson III and Misha Lare. They seem to be cousins.

In case you were wondering about Rika’s scar, she got it, years before, in the car accident in which her father died. The girl is, in the moment of narration, about 20 years old, while Michael is 23.

All the volumes of “Devil’s Night” series are connected, since every next book is a continuation of the previous one. Even so, each of the volumes focuses on one of the Horsemen’s relationship with his love interest.

Check Penelope Douglas’s official website