The Shadow Syndicate - Simone Sumner

Victor and his number two, Vince, spent years trying to keep Zara far from the Syndicate so she could have the “normal” life her father wanted for her. But after Victor’s death, the walls constructed to protect her start to crack because Zara can’t ignore the questions or the lies she grew up with.

With every chapter, you learn every half-truths and secret that reshape everything Zara thought she knew. Vince thinks he’s honoring her father by keeping her in the dark. Zara sees it as betrayal. And honestly? You can feel both sides, which makes their dynamic even more compelling.

One thing I loved: Zara never reads as weak. Each event forces her to grow sharper, stronger, and more self-aware. Her stubborn curiosity, and yes, her growing feelings for Vince, push her into becoming the woman her father never expected she’d have to be and it's the best thing to watch.

I was so frustrated that Vince initially viewed Zara as a walking problem, stubborn, impulsive, impossible to protect. But he made up for it with his devotion to her. His feelings run deep, and you can feel it in every scene… even when he’s fighting them.

Their chemistry? Completely undeniable. They both try to resist it out of respect for her father, but once they finally give in? It’s everything. The slow burn, the tension, the longing, all of it hits exactly the way it should. I received this as an ARC and all this reflects my honest opinion.

Whether you hate me for it or not, I’m yours. I always have been.