Burn the World Down by Anna Hackett [Review]

Burn the World Down (Unsanctioned #1) by Anna Hackett
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 5, 2025

Unsanctioned
1. Burn the World Down - Paperback | Special Edition | Kindle
2. No Matter the Cost

Related Series:
(Find all the reviews for the series under the 1st review)
Team 52
1. Mission: Her Protection

Anna Hackett
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’ll burn the world down for her.

Nash
I left my hometown behind. I joined the military, disappeared into black ops, and became a weapon for my country. I have no regrets.

Except one with pretty hazel eyes.

Now I’m retired, living a quiet life hiding in plain sight in Las Vegas. I still think of her. The prettiest girl I ever knew. My best friend’s little sister.

But I swore to leave her alone to live a normal life. That I wouldn’t drag her into the darkness.

Then I find out her life isn’t golden.

She’s in danger and I have the right set of skills to save her.

Georgie
Your life can change in an instant. One second, you have a happy family and a crush on your brother’s best friend.
The next, you’ve lost everyone you ever loved.

My family is dead and my sister fell prey to a predator. A rich, connected man who promised her the world.

And gave her hell instead.

Now, I have nothing left but a burning need for vengeance.

Until I collide with the boy who left me behind. A boy who’s now a tough, dangerous man.

He says he’ll protect me. He says he’ll help me take down my sister’s killer.

I might survive my revenge, but will I survive when he walks away from me again?

Thoughts on Burn the World Down: We're in LV where a group of former assassins are trying their hand at living normal lives. Mostly. Which isn't to say they're doing a bad job at that normal life thing, but that all have quirks and skill sets outside the societal norm and sometimes they need to stretch those muscles (for good reasons, now!).

Nash and his friends (his family, really, and I do love a good found family dynamic) are doing their thing when Nash realizes the woman asking about him is none other than the girl he left behind. The one he thinks is too good for him. The one who is on a path that she's not trained for and might end up destroying her.

Honestly, even if it hadn't been Georgie needing him, I think Nash still would have done what he did when he stepped in. Sure, he likely wouldn't have fallen in love with anyone else (and by "likely" I mean "definitely"), but he would have still done everything in his power to help anyone else in Georgie's situation. Because that's the kind of guy he (and his found family!) is.

Which brings us to Georgie. She's heartbroken about her sister, running on fumes and the need for vengeance, and her plan to get the man who hurt her sister isn't exactly fool-proof. As she finds out when rushing him and his bodyguards ends badly. Having Nash on her side is unexpected. Sure, she went looking for him, but she didn't expect to find him and she didn't realize how badly she needed the emotional support of someone who had her back until he was there for her.

A little danger, a bad man who exploits starry-eyed women, found family (love!), a former assassin who is exactly the man Georgie needs, and a woman who knows a good man when she finds him. *thumbs up* to the start of another fantastic series!