Deliverance by Katelyn Taylor Review

Rating: 5 Stars

On Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Publication Date: April 24, 2025

HEA: Yes

Version: eARC 

De•liv•er•ance [noun] the action of being rescued or set free 

This book was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions.  I laughed, I cried. This book broke my heart several times and then taped it all back together. This book was a journey from start to finish and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Deliverance follows Maggie, who has been a side character in the other Gallows Hill world books, as she falls for her new step-sister in an unlikely twist of fate. Things are going well between them until Bridgette panics and chooses her own security in their world over Maggie. The timeline overlaps in this book some with the Gallows Hill Trilogy, so this brings us to the start of Deceit. Things only become more toxic from here between them.  

As someone who hasn’t read all of Gallows Hill yet, there definitely are some spoilers for events that happen, so I recommend reading those first. There is a good portion of overlap, but one of my favorite things about shifting to side character POV’s is that you get to see the same events through new eyes. I love when you find out that something you thought you knew for sure, is completely different from a different POV. It only further proves that there are multiple sides to every story, so I absolutely loved getting to see that firsthand, especially when it came to Bridgette’s POV toward Skyla and the guys.  

So what about the characters? Maggie had made her lovable mark on my soul on the Gallows Hill Trilogy, but getting her POV has enshrined her place there. Maggie is witty and sarcastic, sometimes bringing *gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss* to a new level. While her and Bridgette were a little toxic for each other, their dynamic still worked in so many ways. Bridgette is portrayed as a Queen B, a bitch in the highest regard, and I can 1000% confirm that I love mean women in books.  However, when you scratch just a bit of that pristine surface, you find that she’s also full of insecurities and vulnerabilities that she works hard to hide. She wants to be loved so badly and that is what brings her down to earth in a way.  

I won’t spoil the plot but I will say that if you get a sinking feeling that you think something is going on, you’re probably right. There are lots of twisty moments and times when it’s hard to be in a certain POV because of what the character is going through. It’s raw and emotional. You can’t help but fall for both of these women, get excited by their happy moments, cry during the emotional ones. It’s things like this that make a book great for me. 

Now I know what you all want to know about…the spice. The spice in this book is off the charts, even when not surrounding the main couple. And yes, there is spice outside of the main couple, which is a deterrent for some people, but I think it just added to their deliciously toxic behavior. I didn’t expect spice in chapter 1, but I was definitely here for it.  There were so many spicy bits sprinkled throughout, so if you are a spice person, you won’t be disappointed at all. 

On the flip side, if you are a plot person, you also won’t be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of spice.  I am fully a plot over spice girl and this one had an immaculate balance of both in my opinion.  I’ve noticed in starting my Katelyn Taylor journey that she definitely balances those two things pretty well.  Even if it’s spice heavy, there’s enough plot to keep the story moving. 

Overall, what did I think? Five stars immediately.  It’s sapphic, which I always love, step-sisters, with an overarching secret society plot that doesn’t want them to be together? And it has enemies to lovers vibes with an emotionally satisfying ending? SIGN ME UP.  I think if you like ANY of these things, you’ll enjoy this book.  I definitely recommend checking it out, but check out the Gallows Hill trilogy first or risk being spoiled.  I also believe this goes past where the Gallows Hill trilogy ends. 

I will leave you with the reminder that you should check your triggers on this one because it is HEAVY.  There’s a lot more than meets the eye happening in the background and it is hard to get through at times, so please be mindful.  

I can’t wait to read more of Katelyn’s books and I truly hope this isn’t the last we see of Gallows Hill.  A part of me feels like it isn’t. 

Tropes: 

💋Step-sisters

💋Secret Romance

💋Forbidden Love

💋Secret Society

💋Dark Academia