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He was supposed to protect me. Instead, he became the monster who turned my dreams into nightmares.
He was supposed to love me. In the end, his love was poison, leaving me tarnished and hollow.
His death was supposed to bring me peace. But, his memories continue to terrorize me.


Since his first lecherous touch I’ve had only one purpose. One reason to not fully give into my demons :
The fraying hope of escaping this depraved life.

Coming back to Montecito has reinforced what I was callously taught as a child.
Everyone has something to hide … even those you hold closest.

Depravity lurks in the shadows, taunting me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
While anonymous threats promise nothing but bloodshed and death if I don’t obey.

My heart is torn between the three gorgeous guys who are the only bright lights in the obsidian darkness surrounding me.
But if my soul claims each of them equally, will they forgive me for refusing to choose?

When my nightmares begin to mix with reality, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s a figment of my fractured mind.
One thing’s for sure, if my monster’s back, he’ll stop at nothing until I’m exactly how he loves me ...
Destroyed.

*Destroyed is the second book in the Tainted by Ruin Trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone. It is a Dark High School Reverse Harem Romance that includes scenes that may be triggering to some. (Sexual assault, physical abuse, self harm). Recommended for readers 18+.

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2021

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About the author

Indie Black

13 books371 followers
Indie Black is taking a plunge into the book world. She's a California native who prefers tacos over sushi, the beach over the mountains, and books over anything else. She's a certified water snob, dog lover and will try just about anything that tastes like bubblegum.

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209 (14%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
Profile Image for M.
646 reviews265 followers
November 2, 2021
This book picks up right where Tarnished ended. There is so much packed into this read. My mind was blown. There's new twists and players in the game you don't expect. Just when you think you know what's going on, you're thrown a curveball.

Indiana is still having a rough time at school. Being ridiculed by almost everyone. She pushes back, but she can only do so much. Others start coming to her aid and she isn't sure if she should put her trust in them or not. Someone I thought was finally coming around to be who she needed showed me that might never happen.

We get more of Brett's vile POV, along with Indiana's guys in this book. That was a huge plus to the story. I like all of her guys, but Maddox is still my favorite. Her foster brother Presley is a disgusting human and his sister Tinsley is sitting on that bench with him.

So much happened in this book and I don't want to give away any spoilers. Just know that you'll be DESTROYED after reading this! Especially with that ending - What.The.Hell!

*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Profile Image for Michelle Ann.
513 reviews21 followers
October 31, 2021
I literally have no words. This book took me on a ride of epic proportions. After reading Tarnished, I was so ready to read Destroyed, ready to get back into it, knowing there’s so much more to this story. And oh man, this book did not disappoint. Indiana has become my idol. After being so timid, so triggered, she’s now ready to tell her story and I applaud her. There were some moments in the book where I was straight up cheering! Straighten up that spine, girl. You got this!

This book features the POV of her disgusting brother Brett. And the sexy AF men in Indiana’s life. Maddox, the tattooed up best friend turned lover. Weston, the swimmer with alpha tendencies. Jagger the bad boy with a heart of gold. I have to say though, Jagger really stole my heart. I’m glad to see Jameson turning around. Well…slightly . Sort of. I didn’t think he was gonna actually be redeemable because there were times I wanted to throat punch him. I don’t know if it’s a temporary disfunction of his frontal cortex, does he have feelings for Indiana? I want more of his story.

I’m so ready for more because this cliffhanger was a WTF moment for me. And I’m left hanging until next year.
Profile Image for Valentina.
1,079 reviews309 followers
November 14, 2022
3.5 stars

Thrilling romantic suspense

Continuing from book 1, this edition follows Indiana's gradual growth of coping from her harrowing past and self-harm to blossoming relationships not only with a more understanding Maddox but also the guys who are set to become members of this polyamorous relationship. And the beauty in the development of the why-choose romance is the diverse backgrounds of the guys, from the most studious to the most dangerous. They crossed all barriers. And yet all of them, heroine and heroes, are realistically, wonderfully flawed. This story is romance marked by mystery, twists, and malevolence.

Indiana is amicable, a warm personality, still damaged, fragile even, but given to bouts of strength on the way to recovery. I liked that this book focuses less on her past and more on her emotional growth, day-to-day events and encounters -- some toxic and some hilarious and a little steamy attraction to keep it interesting. An envious foster stepsister and toxic foster stepbrother are still on the rampage, along with some bullying and other harsh encounters in high school while side character Otis ruffling friend Jen and the other's feathers kept me laughing with his antics. Best friend, now boyfriend Maddox, and new love interests Weston, Jagger, and Jameson were oh so alpha and hot.

Character development was excellent, whether the well-depicted differences among the guys or Indiana's closest friends, everyone was rendered perceptively unique and appealing, and with their own backstories that shaped who they were. Even the bad ones as foils to Indiana's crew contributed to the intrigue and suspense of the story, with blasts from the past and Mr. Anonymous at the top of the malignant list.

This book's strongest suits were its mystery and the characters, their relationships. The budding attraction to the guys was tangible, and while the chemistry rang strong -- looks, electrical touches, sexual energy, the story was not particularly spicy. For me, that was a miss, particularly for a reverse harem. I would have loved more spice and less setting description, particularly, too, in favor of a faster pace, more story progression. Some settings were described in such detail to have been written as images in succession -- this and to the left, then to the right, behind, on the wall, etc. -- much more telling stylistically than showing. Overly descriptive. Also, the pace started moderately, slowed dramatically in the middle, and picked up right before the gripping cliffhanger. Overall, slow.

Written only in the heroine’s, it was an engaging, heart-felt, romantic suspense. Low spice and rather slow. Still, I enjoyed Indiana, Maddox, Jagger, Weston, and Jameson, and I’m interested in how the story unfolds.
Profile Image for Aplis.
546 reviews40 followers
December 21, 2021
I read this exactly one week ago and here I am scrambling to remember what it was all about. Darn. I remember the heroine and her past..but nothing related to what's happening in the present or how this book ended. 🤦🏾‍♀️
Profile Image for Renee.
4,182 reviews55 followers
November 2, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's book Reports.

Since his first lecherous touch I've had only one purpose. One reason to not fully give into my demons. The fraying hope of escaping this depraved life. Coming back to Montecito has reinforced what I was callously taught as a child. Everyone has something to hide...even those you hold closest. Depravity lurks in the shadows, taunting me, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. While anonymous threats promise nothing but bloodshed and death if I don't obey. My heart is torn between the three gorgeous guys who are the only bright lights in the obsidian darkness surrounding me. But if my soul claims each of them equally, will they forgive me for refusing to choose? When my nightmares begin to mix with reality, it's hard to know what's real and what's a figment of my fractured mind. One thing's for sure, if my monster's back, he will stop at nothing until I'm exactly how he loves me....Destroyed.

You have to read Tarnished before you can dive into Destroyed. If you have not started this Dark Bully Romance Series yet, what are you waiting for? I loved that book so much and could not wait to have Destroyed in my hands to dive into it. It does not disappoint either. I need to mention to that some things in these books will be triggers for some people so heed the warnings in the beginnings of the books PLEASE!!! This is the story of Indiana who can never ever seem to catch a break. Her past keeps coming back to haunt her and some people just refuse to go and stay gone. I loved her so much. She really goes through it and good gosh you just want to steal her out of this book and show her a good world. Not the one she is living in. However she is the type of girl that doesn't need to learn her lessons the hard way and not grow from them. Then you have her fellar's. I just adored them so much. I do not have a clue how a girl could choose between one of them They all seem to complete and bring out little pieces if Indiana that no one else ever gets to see. I can not tell you about the story without giving something away and I refuse to do that. So just dive in and find a comfy place on the edge of said seat and enjoy the twist, turns and shocking moments. I for one can not wait to have the third book in my hands.
Profile Image for Shawna Jimenez more.books.forever.
1,770 reviews78 followers
November 2, 2021
I having no freaking words! I’m seriously going to try and out some sentences together that will convey how amazing this second book is. The ladies understood the MFKN assignment… if you thought Tarnished was raw, dark, gritty and gut wrenching AF well our fabulous authors took that book and said hold my MFKN beer we about to turn this ish up by 1000. We get POVs from everyone and I am here for it! Being inside everyone’s thoughts just brought so much life to the story. You got to feel what everyone feeling why certain characters acted and did what they did. YOU GET ALL THE DAMNNN THANGS!!! Brett that sicko sweet baby Jesus I don’t even have words for this mother f’er… Indiana is still as strong as ever and she doesn’t take ish from anyone I loved her growth and the guys oh man the guys whether it’s her friends or her boys they really showed up and showed out! I thought I was prepared going into this book I even did a re-read of Tarnished but nothing could have prepared me for this masterpiece it’s not very often when the next book in series out shines the first but Destroyed did just that. That ending completely speechless jaw on the floor punch to the gut no damnnn words! I need the next book asap!
Profile Image for Felicia.
1,794 reviews91 followers
November 4, 2021
Destroyed by Indie Black and Sienna Cousins is a dark high school reverse harem romance. This is the second book in the Tainted By Ruin Trilogy.

The book comes with a caution "It is a Dark High School Reverse Harem Romance that includes scenes that may be triggering to some. (Sexual assault, physical abuse, self harm). Recommended for readers 18+."


This is Indie and Sienna's debut series and they keep knocking it out of the park. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. The book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that I never wanted to get off.

I loved that we got Brett, Indiana, Maddox, Weston, Jagger, and Anonymous points of view throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

The book ends on an amazing cliffhanger that left me begging for more! I can't wait for the next book in the series Absolution to be released on May 2, 2022.

I would highly recommend this series if you love dark romances, bully romances, reverse harems, or romantic suspense.
Profile Image for Angel.
870 reviews11 followers
January 19, 2024
Indie and Sienna, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS GARBAGE!?
Sorry for being vulgar but COME ON!
Normally, I would have given this book 3 stars however, there were too many errors!
Holy cow! I cannot believe your proof readers and editor didn't catch ANY of them when they were so bloody obvious!
A MASSIVE pet peeve of mine is when it feels like a novel is rushed through, in order to put as many details in it, that they miss such simple errors!
And when their "team", doesn't care enough to point them out!
Sigh.
This is also not my favorite kind of rh book.
Building over time...
I think that was why it took me so long to get through this book.
The first book made me lose interest, so I wasn't able to get lost in book two...
Let's just finish the series. I came thus far.
Wish me luck!
Profile Image for Jamanda.
399 reviews6 followers
November 1, 2021
Can't get enough

I have been anxiously waiting for Destroyed ever since Tarnished ended on that cliffhanger.

If you have read tarnished. You are in for one hell of a rode. If you haven't I suggest you stop what you are doing and read it before Destroyed is released.

This series has everything.

Multiple povs including Indiana's Creepy psychotic monster of a brother Brett. It's a pov I didn't know I needed. It's something different that I haven't come across before In any series and I loved it 

More of Indiana's past is revealed and it is gut wrenching. There's this one part that had me in tears. You will know it when you get to it.

I would have to say Maddox is my favourite. He has his own demons when it comes to Indiana and what she went through. They way he treats her melted my heart.

Then there's Weston, he surprised me the most with how sweet he is, but behind closed doors he's secretly an alpha and it's sexy as hell.

Jagger is this bad boy gang member drug dealer. That is an absolute sweetheart on the inside. The way he is with his sister and Indiana...swoon. Can't wait to see how their relationship evolves.

There's a scene with Indiana, Maddox and Weston that's pure fire. Make sure you have a cold shower ready cause you're going to need it..... damn 🥵🥵🥵🥵.

I still haven't made my mind up on Jameson he better start redeeming himself!!!

Then there's Otis the best friend who brings much needed light to this dark story. He is hilarious, what he says had me laughing out loud. Everyone needs an Otis in their life.

The storyline is out of this world good and the characters are Phenomenal.

Its Dangerously addictive, emotionally charged, Electrifyingly hot, deliciously twisted, edge of your seat thrilling and Heartbreakingly beautiful , Mesmerising and Suspenseful

That ending 😲😲😲😲 need book 3 now!!!!
Profile Image for Locklyn.
134 reviews3 followers
November 19, 2021
Dude!!!!!!! That ending!!!! I just can't!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay thanks I needed to get that out. Man this is a fantastic world and story. Indiana has such a tragic story and it just breaks your heart that she is still healing and trust is so hard. We pick up almost right where we left off in Tarnished. Indiana is struggling after the party, after Maddox breaks her heart again. Weston is such a little control freak. But then the beauty if Maddox and Weston realizing Indiana is the most important thing to them. And man these men are hot!

Jagger though, man, I am a sucker for a bad boy who is really a good man. And that is 100% the case with Jagger. His relationship with his family is golden. And I adore his little sister and how much she love her "Princess Ana". I really feel so much of this gives India light again. It is too easy for her to get stuck in the dark, but with Ellie she gets to feel the light. Plus she can see the way a brother is suppose to interact with his sister.

So in Tarnished we had all the flashbacks of Indiana. In Destroyed we get Brett flashbacks. Anonymous gets bolder. Jameson is a little confusing. He doesn't actually hate Indiana, but he isn't ready to show his cards. Presley and Tinsley are the worst, seriously vapid, cruel foster siblings she is forced to be around. The surprise we find out about her foster parents really was interesting. I can't wait to find out more about foster daddy's past.

I do want to know why Maddox's dad Jax was so against having Indiana stay with them. I really feel there was more of a story there. Ugh so much to still find out. Just like the little drama between Jen and Otis. Gah I love her besties. And I need more information here people. Just like Jameson's feelings and drama. So good. I can't wait for book 3!!!
Profile Image for Jess McDaniel.
897 reviews49 followers
October 31, 2021
I have been waiting to get my grabby hands on this one since the end of Tarnished. I am in love with Indiana and have been since book 1. She has a rough, rough past, but we see her start to try to make her life better. There are people from her past that keep popping up, as well as others that are trying to bring her down.

I love, love, LOVE the guys in this book! They're all different, and whether love interest or friend, they all fit so well with Indiana. Also, Jagger 🥵

This book is a ride.. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I am not ok with that cliffhanger.. not ok at all. Why.. why do you have to do that to us?

Anyway, amazing read! Cannot wait for the next one! I need lots of answers! Also, fix it.
Profile Image for Camille (bookish.cami).
589 reviews35 followers
October 31, 2021
Ok Rude just RUDE that ending! Like WHAT THE……

Breath in and out!!

I absolutely enjoy Indiana so much, she maybe a Damaged and hurt soul, but she is also tough asf.
Now them boys like girl make them drool worthy please.

This one I felt more of a slow burn vibe, it took be a minute to get all the vibes but hot 🥵 damn. Dark and twisted. Not only does this book give you twists and turns, it has you rooting, swooning, laughing and yelling.. like talk about emotion whiplash over here…so many many thoughts now that I have finished this book.

If you have not yet I suggest that you read this series.


Oh beware read them triggers prior to reading. Cause it may not be suitable for some.
Profile Image for Nance.
1,054 reviews17 followers
November 1, 2021
Destroyed is heart-wrenching and filled with mystery and suspense.

This book was so amazing. This is the second book in this series and it had me sitting on the edge of my seat. We do learn some things but then we are left with a cliffhanger hanger that will leave you screaming for more.
This is an incredible series and I highly recommend reading it!
Profile Image for Natalya.
134 reviews16 followers
December 13, 2021
To be fair, I didn’t finish this book.

I couldn’t even hate-read it.

It was HORRIBLE.

Writing: BAD
Dialogue: BAD
Inner Monologue: BAD

Character development: BAD
Plot Development: BAD

I haven’t hated a book this much in a long, long time. I think what really ruined it for me was the time I invested getting to this point.

Just… no.
Profile Image for Basak.
739 reviews36 followers
December 25, 2021
what the…

Oh my God! How could you leave us hanging like this? A brutal cliffhanger! Actually, a brutal two way cliffhanger. I was already all over the place with all the different emotions you guys were evoking in me about every single guy in the book, now I am even more confused and invested. I know I seem to be complaining a lot but I have to state that this is one of the best books I have read this year. I mean not just this, both Tarnished and Destroyed. They are brilliantly constructed and written and emotionally challenging. I just don’t know how I can stand to wait for the conclusion😕
Profile Image for Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer).
781 reviews56 followers
November 2, 2021
WARNING: If you thought the cliffhanger in Tarnished was brutal, then it’s nothing compared to the ending in Destroyed.

Destroyed may start with a prologue. But ultimately Chapter 1 sets off right from where Tarnished ended on the cliffhanger. Not allowing any time to be unaccounted for, helping you to dive right back into Indiana's story.

Indie Black and Sienna Cousins did it again, taking you on a whirlwind of a rollercoaster ride following the many multiple perspectives that include Indiana, Maddox, Brett, Weston, Jagger and Anonymous.
The story had you knee deep in emotions and feelings given everything that everyone seems to be enduring within their lives. Especially Indiana who continues to go through many hardships, still trying to battle the demons to stay above ground and not allow them to drown her by continuously attempting to lure her back into the dark abyss.
Once again I had to applaud Indiana, seeing as she continued to fought with all her might into not allowing herself to succumb to the demons. No matter how hard it got and became for her.

Just when I thought Tainted by Ruin trilogy couldn’t get any deeper than what Tarnished was. Indie and Sienna proved me wrong with Destroyed, resulting in another book that delved more deeper (if even possible) into encapsulating the extensive nitty grittiness of the raw, dark inky subject matters that involved abuse. Some of which was taboo given the relations. Resulting in the haemorrhaging of painful and sensitive sentiments that tugged deep and hard onto your heart strings, leaving you aching from the pain of it all.

Given all the multiple perspectives there was definitely a lot going on. Taking you on yet another emotionally charged journey filled with angst, drama, suspense and mystery.
While we are presented with more questions, secrets and mysteries, however given that this is the second book in the Tainted by Ruin trilogy. We are able to construct together some of the pieces to the puzzle, given that some of the mysteries that led to secrets and questions in Tarnished are revealed within Destroyed. Helping us to understand more and start to get a clearer picture to the overall story of Indiana, Maddox, Brett, Weston and Jagger and where the journey is leading us to.
I loved that we finally got to see more to the other characters, besides Indiana. For instance, with the many chapters dedicated to Maddox, we finally started to see more into his life and understand somewhat of what he had been through prior to Indiana coming back into his life. As well as his behaviour towards Indiana in Tarnished that led to him pulling away. All of which definitely helped to fill in some of the unanswered questions I had by the end of Tarnished in regards to Maddox.

Considering there were some things I wasn’t keen on in Tarnished, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Destroyed and whether I would be facing those same concerns again.
Thankfully though I didn’t have to worry about that, seeing as Indie and Sienna never once had me facing those same concerns all through Destroyed.
However, I will admit I did face a different issue instead...the narrative.
While I did enjoy the book overall on a whole, I will admit there were times throughout where I felt the narrative would disconnect leading to a standstill. Resulting in there not being any movement in those certain periods of time IMO.
It seemed to me that Destroyed had a few breaks in between, causing the narrative lose that ongoing smooth flow that Tarnished had. The fact that one minute you would be focused on something for a good period of time, only for it to be cut off and something else come into focus. Ultimately resulting in the feeling and awareness of the standstill in between those cuts that I just couldn't ignore.

Despite the above, Indie Black and Sienna Cousins still had me liking the book overall. Especially with the ending.
HOLY MOTHER CHUCKER! Let me just say I am definitely not okay with that ending.
Talk about a huge ass explosive cliffhanger that I did not see coming or was even prepared for in the slightest! And to now have to wait until May 2022 to get my answers to know how everything will play out in Absolution, the finale to Tainted by Ruin trilogy. Well it’s going to be a torturous wait that I am not prepared for, that's for sure!


*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Macabre Rose.
56 reviews4 followers
November 3, 2021
Destroyed is the second installment in the Tainted by Ruin Trilogy from Indie Black and Sienna Cousins. This book brought great energy and continued developing this story in such a phenomenal way. I often feel a bit of a lag in the middle books of a series, but we got several new elements in this part that really helped keep the story moving.

Indiana is back in a big way. This book starts out right where we left off, but our girl is struggling to figure out if our cliffy from book one actually happened, or if it really all was just a dream. Unfortunately, she finds out pretty fast that all is not good in her little world. As if trying to figure out how to get back in the good graces of Maddox, Otis, and Weston isn't hard enough, Indiana's foster parents, Sloane and Keaton, are getting more sus by the minute. Jameson's attitude continues to blow hot and cold, and even best friend Jen is getting a bit weird. Presley is just a creeptastic as ever, but Tinsley's new boyfriend is having an impact on her attitude, and even she is a bit off. Jagger seems to be one of the few steady characters in this book, never wavering in showing his interest for Indiana.

This installment includes several new POVs, including flashbacks to brother Brett's teenage years, and adds in some chapters from Maddox, Weston, and Jagger, in addition to the Anonymous character we met in book one. While it seems busy to be in so many minds, I think Indie and Sienna did an amazing job moving amongst the different perspectives. There was a purpose to each POV, and the chapters played really well off each other. Indiana's relationship development with all her perspective suitors gets hot and heavy. She's come a long way since living the better part of her teenage years in a basement. We got another heart-stopping cliffhanger at the end of this book that has destroyed me (hehe, see what I did there?).

I love the direction this storyline is going and can only hope the end of this book is going to come out in another direction, but I guess we'll have to wait until book three to find out.

I received a free copy of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

Character development: 5/5
Dark elements: 4/5
Steamy scenes: 5/5
Overall storyline: 5/5
Triggers: Yes, indeed - bullying, self-harm and mental health struggles, abuse (including that of a minor), dead bodies
Profile Image for Pops.
174 reviews9 followers
October 31, 2021
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ahhhhh im screaming internally right now THIS BOOK WAS SO FUCKING GOOD! I am struggling to even put into words just how good this was!

Just like Tarnished, I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book! Im such a mess right now ahhh! I was constantly suspicious of people, Keaton was giving me such bad vibes then that fucking bomb dropped like wdf! Oh and Matthew🥴🥴 noooo! Honestly I was reading this with my jaw on the floor! Like I did not see that coming! I fully shut my kindle app down and was like no, nooo, this is very, very bad!. I started reading Destroyed first thing in the morning and read the whole godamn book in one sitting!! That is how good it is, you cannot stop reading it!

Maddox, Weston and Indiana... shittt boy🥵🥵 that was off the fucking scalee hot!! All the spice scenes in this book were just so fucking much, I was blushing the whole day!

Jagger and Jameson with Indiana🥵🥵 so little happens with them but the sexual tension was crazy, you could cut a bitch with it, it was that sharp!

Otis and Jen aswell (??) Like what do we have here I need more on that in the next book please!! Im dying to know why she hates him so much!

Anonymous - what the fuck!🤣 I thought it was you know who (dont want to give spoilers) but no its obvs not so whoo the hell is it! I really thought I had it but like you did in the first book you throw us a curveball!

My heart does break again for Indiana in this book but she has definatly got herself more of a back bone in this one and I loved her fire at times! Im so happy our Maddog is there to help her when she needs it, he really is her Knight🖤🖤

Lets no get started on the ending, its going to take me a while to get over this, you know when you know its coming but I was just praying you would'nt! I kept swipping the pages thinking, this has to be a joke - it cannot be over - they cannot leave us like this! But its what you both do best.🤨😄.

If you have'nt read Tarnished then you need to start on this series now!! Roll on next year, im counting down the days for Absolution. I literally have butterflys im so excited but also nervous!🖤🖤
Profile Image for ✨✨ Claire✨✨.
1,025 reviews46 followers
November 14, 2021
Once again my emotions have been pulled,  stretched, torn, ripped and shredded throughout the book.

We begin with Indiana facing her days alone  after the big bust up at the party. Jen is still away with the school trip. She has a lot to deal with at home, at school and even her mobile phone feels like it has a personal attacker that sneaks up on her text messages.

Maddox tho is lost without his Blue. After going thru a personal soul search , he and India talk everything thru. These two have such a strong, deep and sturdy connection its a joy to watch it strengthen over time. He even surprises her about how to go about things with Weston. And even Weston is surprised. We see the 2 males come to the agreement that Indianas happiness is the only thing that matters. Any awkwardness or uncomfortableness vanished quickly and they find that they actually get on!
But is it just going to be two? Indiana has feelings for Jagger, the bad boy gangster who loves his family and is always there for her. And Jameson is always on the sidelines somehow. Her feelings constantly blurring and changing dependent upon his behaviour. But there's no denying of the feelings there.

Brett is back. We even get chapters from his pov ranging from when he was younger. These were interesting to read and to see how his emotions ranged and how he reacts to his growing feelings to his little sister.

You find yourself holding your breath when he crosses paths with Indiana. Not knowing what he's going to do because he's capable of so much.

The twins are still being the ugly step Siblings - Presley being lecherous and gross, altho he faces a few comeuppances and potentially he's pushed India too far... Tinsley is another matter. Yes still the same name calling but with her relationship with "matthew" on the sidelines, India is more worried, and its looking like she has a reason to be....

Once again we have an "anonymous". He's kinda scary and making more moves and making plans to move on people around Indiana. The cliffhanger involves him and its left us really worrying! Well - I know I am!!!

I received a copy of the ebook in return for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Books A-Brewin'.
285 reviews35 followers
October 11, 2022


Indiana's ghost from the past has come back to haunt her in a way she never imagined. She had thought he was long dead, that he was just a bad memory that she needed to get over. But it seems evil doesn't like to stay dead and now she has to find a way to escape her past all over again while also navigating the tumultuous waters of her new love affairs with Maddox and Weston. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding Indiana and she is coming up short on answers. Can Indiana find the freedom she has longed for?

This book seemed to almost tread water. Instead of catapulting the story forward it seemed to move at a snail's pace. Indiana was still finding her place with her boys and yet she has only told Maddox of her past. She is still keeping it from Weston and still going extremely slow with Jagger. For a series that is supposed to be a trilogy the third book is going to have a lot of ground to cover to tie up all the loose ends and also complete the harem so there is a happily-ever-after.

I feel as if Indiana's past is a constant topic in the books so when dealing with the past so often, how exactly is a character meant to grow and find the ability to heal? I understand that there are still antagonists that are haunting her and outwardly attacking her so it is hard to bury it when it keeps slapping you in the face, but... I had hoped there was going to be a bit of growth from Indiana and also some forward motion.

Destroyed was a fairly lackluster sequel that I hope will be redeemed in the last book.

Profile Image for Siri.
1,195 reviews64 followers
November 1, 2021
3,5 stars
What a ride, i loved that we got to read from more PoV than just the heroin Indiana. It makes you understand the other characters thoughts and reasons for their actions. We get to dive really deep in the past, Brett´s PoV was there and we got to see his sick thoughts from the very beginning. He knew it was wrong but did not stop it and just gave in to the dark. He is a sicko, i hate that guy and i just wanna kill him myself.
Indiana ofc is my spirit, i love that girl she is so sweet and has gone thru so much. I really feel for her and with her. I was really happy when she pushed back and smashed that girls head in the mirror or was it a wall?
So in the first book i did not really like Maddox cuz of his hot and cold behavior, first he appeared to be a good guy then he went 100% an asshole giving the cold to Indi and just went off without saying anything to Indi and so on. I was not a fan of Weston either in the previous. But in the second book you get to read from their PoV and understand why Maddox acted like that. He really changed and now i like that dude. weston also got on my good side, i need to know more about him tho, his past. Everyone has a past, a lot of em has a tragic past sadly. Jagger is still my number 1 guy, since he joined the book. I am curious of his past, he obv still has some good family left but he also said he was in a gang? right
Jameson that guy, no he will not join the harem. In the first one i got feeling that he had feelings for Indi but there is so many mood swings with him that i don´t even know. He is still an ass all the time, when you think he has changed a lil bit he goes being an ass again. What he said to Indie is not fucking okay, ugh
I did not know where Otis stood in all of this, like if he liked indi more than a friend, but now we see that is not the case at all. I wonder if maybe Otis and his cousin will both be in a relationship with Jen in the end?
Omg that ending, whaat the fuck give me the last book!!
November 8, 2021
So I want to start out by saying I think like most people I loved the first book and couldn't wait for this second book. As soon as this book hit my kindle I want to say I devoured it, but honestly I kind of slowed down on and had some real hard eye rolls at places. But I'll get to that at the end of this review. Also I'm going to try and keep this as Spoiler free as I can, but I may let some stuff slip by accident.

Let's start with Indiana.... I liked her in book one, I felt for her in book one, I understood where she was coming from in book one, I felt like she could become stronger in book one.... Honestly in this book I really felt like there should have been some growth from Indiana. Unfortunately for me I just didn't feel like there was Any Growth in her character in this book. I kinda feel like the authors are really pushing for her to have this "Naive Innocence" about her, when in reality what has happened to her kinda of cancels that out. But yeah I really didn't feel any growth from her.

Lets get to the guys.... I'm really glad that Maddox and Weston got their heads out of their arses... Honestly I think Jagger may be my favorite out of all of them.... And than there's the question of Jameson, I'm still unsure what to think of him & honestly I'm still trying to figure out if he's supposed to be part of this harem or not.... Also I was really hoping that Otis would be part of the guys.

So I want to say I did enjoy this book. But as mentioned above I just didn't devour it the way I thought I would. There were some parts that were just repetitive, repetitive, repetitive to me and made me roll my eyes hard. Again as mentioned above I felt like there was no growth in Indiana as a character. Also what was up with Jen in this book? I didn't really like her either in this book. Also there's some twists in this book that I didn't see coming.

I'm giving this book 4 Stars out of 5 and can't wait for book three!!!

**I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion**
493 reviews9 followers
November 5, 2021
Indie and Sienna are truly phenomenal at their craft. They have cultivated characters that immediately themselves in your heart and soul, they build them up and shower them with hope and purpose. They make you blindly follow them into to the dark with the promise of paradise when in actual fact they throw you into a deep, dark, void of despair and rip your heart out and laugh as the light slowly fades from your eyes.

Indiana is still a deeply tormented soul, battling her demons every minute of everyday. She is learning that no matter how far she runs from them even in death they will find her and new ones appear at every turn. We do see so much growth in Indiana, in her being open to finding healthy coping mechanisms and allowing others to understand the darkness that has plagued her life. There are moments where her light shines and hope is present however the darkness that plagues her life smothers is quickly.

I loved the development in relationships with Maddox, Weston and Jagger. I adore the realism in them too how they evolve organically and at their own rate in line with each of the guys characters. The chemistry with Indiana and each of the guys makes you burn and when they're together as a group will set you alight.

The darkness and depravity that surround Indiana is immense. Its closing in on her and the guys without them knowing suffocating and destroying everything they were starting to build. This book will build you up and then shatter your soul. I am so invested in Indiana I want justice for her and the guys, I will be glued to every update waiting for the next book.
Profile Image for Jennifer G.
2,510 reviews48 followers
November 9, 2021
He's back. Her worst nightmare, her first abuser has returned from the dead, and he's made it clear he still considers her his. His to play with, his to destroy. And if anyone gets between them, he will make them pay.

Picking up where book one left off, Indiana is struggling to determine the difference between paranoia and true danger. The flashbacks now cover Brett's downfall into madness and depravity. They are increasingly frightening as he loses his battle between right and wrong. While it's impossible to have any sympathy for him, I found it sad. He loved her; it just went terribly wrong. Maddox mostly redeemed himself in this book. We got glimpses into his pain, but it's still not clear to me why exactly he is filled with so much pain and the need to escape. Why does he hate his parents so much? It seems like there's more than the separation with Indiana after her parent's deaths. It seems too extreme and a little unreasonable if everything stems from his parents not taking in the girl from across the street. The glimpses into Weston and Jagger's stories were wonderful. The emotional bond is starting to feel more substantial. I still have no idea what Jameson's role is. If he is a harem member, it's not working for me. I enjoyed the trip to meet his Nana and aunt but I have serious reservations about him still. Indiana's character growth has been steady. She heals and then faces a retraumatization of sorts but it works within the story. I am interested to see what role her foster parents are playing. Overall, the book is a success. It was entertaining, I became more attached to the characters, and after the cliffhangers, I can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Marisa.
741 reviews32 followers
November 10, 2021
This continuation of the series continued to completely engross me and I was heavily invested in knowing what was happening with these characters. I mentioned with my review of the first book and I’ll say it again, I love that this book is different from other reverse harems because we still don’t know exactly who is going to be within it. With this book we have two and a few theories.

Indiana’s story continues to pull at your heartstrings. The poor girl has been through so much in her short years and when you think/hope that maybe she can catch a break, life throws something else at her. After part of the reveal that occurred at the end of book one, the stakes are even higher but she is aware of at least one threat to her.

For the men in her life, we begin to see how her relationship forms and changes with some of them. We are given glimpses into the childhood and pasts of a few of the guys and it only adds to the theories of which role they will all have within the story. It’s hard to pick based on their current actions, past actions and their histories. I especially love that it’s not an insta-love/the relationship is perfect scenario. There are discussions, there are emotions and confusion and judgments. It seems a bit more realistic overall, which is a change from most of these types of books.

I have really enjoyed the two books in the series thus far. The character histories and growth and development and the mysteries that are both big and small continue to captivate. That ending left so much to think about and there was a little bit of a shock. Book three can’t come soon enough.
Profile Image for Brandi.
281 reviews8 followers
November 16, 2021
Destroyed starts right where Tarnished ended and we see the outcome from that. Indiana is definitely stronger in this book. She’s more comfortable in her own skin and has more people in her corner. It starts off a little rocky at first just because she is still dealing with the consequences of her decisions from the end of Tarnished but eventually things get resolved somewhat.

The thing I really liked about this book were the flashbacks from Brett’s POV. When I saw the first one, I was like ummm really? But after reading them I found that they were necessary to show that Brett wasn’t always a psychotic creep. He was good and went through something and he started to change. We needed to see that he tried to fight his feelings for Indiana. I hope in the next book we get more POV from him.

It was also great to get more POV scenes from the other guys and see more of their past, family life, and their thoughts/feelings for Indiana.

I did like this sequel and will for sure read the next book, especially after another huge cliffhanger, but I only have four stars because for whatever reason I found myself having a hard time staying interested in it. It just felt a lot slower than Tarnished and I was more interested in side characters. I want Jen, Otis, and his cousin to have their own ménage/harem thing going on and I NEED the history between Jen and Otis! I also love Jameson with my whole heart and need more of him. Hear me out….I want Presley to have his own book. It’s just something about the psycho character where you want to see them earn redemption and be a better person.

If you read Tarnished then you need to read this one!
Profile Image for Marcie.
934 reviews48 followers
July 13, 2022
Holy Hell - just when I think Indie and Sienna couldn’t turn up the suspense anymore, they proved me wrong with this second book in their Tainted by Ruin series. Once I dove in, there wasn’t a want to finish this - there was only need.

I don’t say this often, but I will say it now - if you love a perfectly written dark and suspenseful romance, don’t have many triggers, love a scarred heroine that is stronger than she realizes, characters that you can’t help but fall in love with (and others that will make your fight instinct come to life) and an intricate story line with a web bigger than Texas that will grip you and have you clenching your thighs one minute only to make your jaw clench in fear the next - this series is it.

I love the growth with Indiana and the support she gets from Maddox, Weston and Jagger along with her best friends Otis and Jen. But the nightmares that she thought she was free from comes back with a vengeance.

I cannot put into words all the emotions I felt while reading this - I have never been repulsed one minute, blazing hot with anger the next, all while fighting laughter, the painfully strong urge to clench my thighs all within one story - and I am here for all of it. Indie and Sienna have blown me completely away with their attention to detail and their ability to craft a story with characters that will burn their memories into your heart and soul, a plot with so many twists that will leave you checking for whiplash and suspense that will leave a permanent trail of goosebumps…all mixed up with the perfect amount of spice and humor. I am loving this series and can’t wait to dive into the next.
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