The novel by Penelope Douglas, follows the journey of Erika “Rika” Fane, a young woman entwined with a group of dangerous boys called the Horsemen—Michael Crist, Kai Mori, Will Grayson, and Damon Torrance.

Michael Crist has been the object of every last one of Erika’s adolescent fantasies, but he has always treated her with disdain and indifference, knowing she was meant for his younger brother. Once the popular kid in school, and now a successful professional athlete, Michael has grown from an angry little boy whose father’s constant disapproval made him afraid to stand up for himself, into a man who pursues his dreams unapologetically, living life to the fullest and caring for no one’s opinion but his own. But for the past three years, Michael has lived with regret and anger, blaming the girl he could never have for the fate of his three closest friends. And he is now determined to make her pay for their pain and suffering by playing on the very crush she’s had on him for so long. “She didn’t know that we knew. She didn’t know that we were coming for her.” Metaphors are used to compare two very different concepts, while similes are used to provide insight into relationships between characters. Foreshadowing hints at upcoming events in the novel, while irony creates suspense and explores themes. Allusions to historical figures, places, and events provide context and depth to the story, while imagery creates vivid and detailed descriptions. My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He’s handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me. He wasn’t like Will. Kai’s loyalty lasted only so long as you deserved to keep it, and he was strong. So much stronger than me as we both well knew.To protect themselves, the Horsemen pin the blame on Michael’s younger brother, Trevor. Trevor takes the fall for the crime, and his life is ruined in the process. Believing that Rika is responsible for Trevor’s demise, the Horsemen secretly vow to seek revenge on her. As Rika starts college in Thunder Bay, she becomes increasingly haunted by her past and the tragic event she was involved in. Meanwhile, the Horsemen begin to carry out their revenge plan, tormenting and manipulating Rika in various ways. Their actions become increasingly sinister as they draw her into their dark world, forcing her to confront her fears and face the consequences of her involvement in the prank. The symbolism and metaphors in Corrupt are used to illustrate the characters’ struggles and the consequences of their decisions. Penelope Douglas uses symbols such as darkness, water, and the sun to represent the characters’ journey and the choices they make.

In high school, they’d called them the Four Horsemen. Star athletes, best friends, nothing touched them. They were invincible. No. I couldn’t run. They’d find me soon, and I wanted them to. I shouldn’t have run from them in the first place. I have a fairly long list of issues, most of which I can’t state because they are spoilers. However, I will say the book has:

I pushed up, raising on shaky legs, the sharp edges of the wet leaves under my feet poking my toes as I walked toward the window of the garden shed.

Mrs. White is Penelope’s English teacher, strict yet nurturing, helping her develop her writing skills. Corrupt” by Penelope Douglas is a dark romance novel that tells the story of Erika “Rika” Fane, a young woman who gets entangled with a group of dangerous boys known as the Horsemen. The novel is known for its dark, gritty atmosphere and intense, suspenseful plot.The themes of Corrupt are complex and multi-faceted. Penelope Douglas explores the power of loyalty and the boundaries of morality. She also examines the fragility of trust and the consequences of making the wrong decisions.