Chaos Agent: The Villains, Book 2

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 645 ratings

Price: 18.8

Last update: 07-02-2024


Top reviews from the United States

Elena
5.0 out of 5 stars What a ride!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023
Caution: This text is kind of “spoiler-ish”. It’s also kind of a rambling, more than a review. Per my usual style.

Whereas my comments for The Fixer explain why the book didn’t fully click with me until I read the second book, with Chaos Agent I experienced one of these incredible-read-rides that only happen every few months, and sometimes years.

This book is beyond intelligent, I mean way beyond, never mind an incredibly thrilling ride, this is called out as a romance, but allow me to call it a romantic blend with a very big side of (psychological) thriller.

As well, it is a masterful deep dive into the concept that was introduced in the first book regarding what is right and what is wrong, and just when the “on paper” wrong of something can be understandable and even acceptable, because life and feelings are a lot more complex than anything ever on paper.

This book helps us perhaps not forgive the horrible deeds of Michelle Hastings, but it certainly helps us understand where she’s coming from, what experiences (quite horrible, as well) made her do what she did. And for anyone that was still repulsed by all of those deeds, regardless –in other words, for anyone still firmly in the camp of right is right and wrong is wrong, I do believe the author found a freaking incredible way to “turn the tables” and make reluctant readers reflect – I personally think that was achieved with the “eye for an eye” event, pertaining not ‘just’ to Hastings but to the sweet and up to then very clearly sided on the “what’s right” camp Eden. I honestly think that is a masterful way to turn the tables on the staunchest supporters of the “what’s right is right and everything else is wrong” side. Turns out it did manage to turn the tables on the foremost representative of that view, Eden’s mom.

I so love the moral dilemmas this book presents, the ethical gray areas, and how they made me think. Love the fact Hastings is made accountable for her decisions, and is not entirely forgiven but sort of given a second chance (“you’re not in our supreme shit list anymore, just the regular shit list”), love the fact Eden (along with a host of readers, I would hope) comes to terms with the idea that someone is both capable of having done appalling things, but understanding what drove them there and understanding they do have a heart and a very caring nature to go with all the unsavory rest.

I am a huge fan of stories that shed light to the grayness of the world, to the fact nothing is entirely black or white, and I am exceptionally keen to read and debate on issues that force me to look at things from someone else’s shoes. This book? Big score on all this. This is not to say I condone unethical behavior as par for the course, but it is to say I do “get it” when things are not as clear cut as we’d like them to be. Almost nothing really ever is in real life. This book hits that spot so very well. And I reckon it took some very deep thinking from the author, because she started up with a character that nobody in world liked even a tiny bit, whose behavior in previous book appearances had made her almost Public Enemy #1.

Another factor that I appreciated very much is the fact that one of the side characters, and calling her side is painful for me because she really is a hugely important character to the plot of this book, doesn’t get any kind of what I call “Hollywood retribution”. That is only so very realistic that I could almost cry. As a matter of fact, it is a rather despicable character when one thinks about it, however I ended up pretty happy with the resolution of her arc. Again with the moral/ethical dilemmas. I’d put money on the fact many readers would have expected a different outcome for this character. I am exceedingly happy with the fact she ended up where she would most likely have ended up in real life. This character is also a testament to the cunning smarts all over this book. She outsmarts even Hastings. Enough said.

I ended up liking Hastings a lot more for her flaws than for any other traits –beauty, intelligence, power, the works. It’s a character that resounded with me as deeply human. From all the ice queens I’ve read in the last few years, most get to come relatively naked on the page about why they came to be the way they are – there is always a narrative to explain their backgrounds, but I don’t recall any other Ice Queen protagonist that gets treated like this one – exposing not only what made her strong, but especially what made her flawed, with the experiences that made her the woman she is, with her fears and consequent miserable behavior, not just what made them shine longer term, but what made her fall from grace to begin with. That is quite unique in this book.

It’s likely that Hastings doesn’t get “full pardon” from a good number of readers, but she surely gets to tell her side of the story, and for anyone that is empathetic she does come out quite redeemed on the other side. At least to me. Matter of fact, as I said earlier, she is deeply human in my view – she’s like the rest of us: essentially flawed, no super- human character, no perfection in sight.

I only have resounding applause for this book.
Sabrina Blaum
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2023
I would like to preface this review by saying this was my first encounter of Michelle Hastings, and I’ve not read any other book in this series, aside from The Fixer, and The Chaos Agent. As such, I’m not sure if this impacted how I viewed the story/the character of Michelle Hastings, but I doubt it.

I really enjoyed The Fixer, but The Chaos Agent is on another level. I need to offer some context here. I’ve read a ton of lesbian romance novel, and I’ve read even more fanfic since discovering that medium when I was nineteen. When I was in my early 20s, I’d moved into a studio apartment to be closer to my university. I made the error of placing my computer monitor (a huge, hulking monstrosity) on my nightstand. This meant that I now could lie in bed and read fanfic. As a result, I saw many sunrises while lost in the stories on my screen.

Today, many years later, even though reading digitally has become easier than ever, I don’t do that anymore. I love my sleep. I’ve become quite religious with going to sleep on weekdays no later than 10:30 p.m., and I get exceptionally annoyed when something prevents that. Earlier in the week, I couldn’t stop this damn book until 12:50 a.m. when I forced myself to put it down. The next day, I completed it, once more, 45 minutes passed the time I prefer to go to sleep.

This hasn’t happened to me in ages. In fact, I haven’t been this engrossed in a story in a while. The worst part about this book is that it ends. I was smiling at the end, but it was an almost teary-eyed smile because I had to say goodbye to these characters.

Now, to the book itself. I love Lee Winter’s writing style. It is funny, engaging, kind, and wise. There is no preaching in there, and yet there are still sentences that hit you over the head with how true these statements are. Her characters are consistent, and they act like you’d expect them to do. There is no weird drama or angst for the sake of it, or to artificially prolong the story.

I grew attached to Eden and Michelle, and while Eden had moments where I wanted to knock some sense into her with her inability to see anything but black and white, her character development made sense, and the story led to a point where Eden discovers the color gray, and that was beautiful to see.

The characters aren’t perfect, and we’re not told a million times how hot they are. There is a clear, palatable attraction and fascination between them, but you’re not hit over the head with it. I enjoyed reading about their inner lives, too. It was just a complete picture, and they were real people. Now, I am always happy when this happens—when I connect with the main characters.

Yet, The Chaos Agent offered more here. Usually, I’m indifferent toward side-characters, or they annoy me. I rarely ever even like them. Here, I loved them, and not just one of them. I pretty much loved them all. There was also a twist I didn’t see coming, but it made perfect sense, and there were signs for it, too. I just didn’t notice them until I looked back.

I generally give four or five stars to books where I liked the characters, the plot, and the writing style, but there is usually still something that bothered me a little. Here, there was nothing. As books go, this, to me, is as perfect as you can get. I plan on purchasing these two books as paperback copies as well because I want them in my physical bookshelf. Moreover, I will read the Red Files next, and then check out the rest of Lee Winter’s novels.

I hope that Ms. Winter will one day feel moved to write the next adventures of Michelle and Eden, which will also include their little gang of misfits.

I’m truly grateful Ms. Winter penned this book, and that I stumbled across it. I’d give it ten stars if I could, but five will have to be enough.

This is the best romance novel I’ve ever read.
Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
The story was good but a little sappy and unrealistic for my taste. Here’s hoping life moves on, honeymoon over, reality sets in and Michelle and Catherine find a way back.
Karen Worden
5.0 out of 5 stars Cheers to Panda Justice!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
Lee Winter’s story and Angela Dawe’s narration are a match made in heaven! This is book two of The Villain’s series following book one The Fixer. Angela Dawe’s performance breathes life into Lee Winters’ three dimensional complex characters. Angela’s accents are great and I especially love O’Brien’s Irish brogue. Every characters voice is distinct and the complete range of emotions is heart wrenching. Lee is a master at delving into her characters’ complex nature. Lee, I love your deep examination of human nature. Can a mortal sinner be redeemed? Can you forgive the darkest recognition of your own sins?

Chaos Agent includes a cameo of the main characters from The Red Files and Under Your Skin. Sparks fly when two ice queens and two melters get together. If you enjoyed these books, you’ll love The Fixer and Chaos Agent.

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