Scan barcode
arley_starkreadingmad's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
My first sapphic dark mafia romance. I didn’t even know this genre existed.
I wanted to love this book, I really did, but unfortunately it kinda fell a bit flat for me.
The beginning was great, and so was the end but there was that bit in the middle that just kinda felt like a switch flipped overnight. I understand that insta-lust is a thing, but especially since we get Nessa’s POV we can see how much Nessa detests Siobhan for being a “princess”, and “starting a war over a tantrum”, and being the reason some of their men are dead. All of a sudden all of that gets thrown out of the window? It all felt a bit jarring. I wish there would have been more development there.
As for how quickly they fall in love, I also wish there would have been more development there too. It felt all very surface level feelings. Like how could they love each other with only knowing like a handful of things about each other?
The plot twist there at the end can be seen like a MILE away if you’re even remotely paying attention.
All in all this was fine, I wish it would have been better. 2.5 stars for being unique as a sapphic mafia romance.
gracerichards11's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gloriamontagov's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
➥ 3.5 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
Reluctantly, I snatch her discarded hoodie off the floor and shove it over her head. She frowns at me, her red brows pulling together and her teeth find her bottom lip.
“I’m fucking you in a proper bed,” I tell her, revelling in her squeal when I grab her and hold her to me. She clings to me, legs around my waist and arms looped around my neck, giggling.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
It's genuinely making me so happy to see sapphic romance finally prevailing in smuttier, darker subgenres. A little bird (Amy) told me she found a sapphic mafia romance and I was sold the second I found out. Overall, it is frankly apparent that this is a debut novel. Its mediocrity is undeniable but the entertainment value was high. It was ultimately a very enjoyable read. I'm really looking forward to reading more of these authors' books, they definitely have potential.
➥ Siobhán Branigan (h) was a pretty ok fmc. She wasn't notably good or bad really. A little pathetic sometimes, maybe, but she didn't bother me much. I'd like to see better characterisation of both fmcs next time!
➥ Nessa Tobin (h) has me gasping sometimes ngl. Cute, hot, crazy - what's not to like? I had a good time reading her character, she's a bit of a toughie, but I loooved that she insisted on calling Siobhán by her last name.
➥ Sebastian is the typical, comedic relief side character - loved him.</blockquote>
Generally, I think the romance was pretty well executed, but I think there are certain things that can definitely be worked on. But I'd rather start with what I loved!
I walk to Nessa and wrap my arm around her waist. I feel the press of her gun in the waistband of her jeans at the bottom of her back and I wrap my fingers around it before pulling it free. I push my lips against Nessa’s cheek softly, pecking her lightly before turning back to face the rest of the men on trial.
These bitches were crazy for this, fully stamped the words "power couple" on their reputation because...
“I need to come,” she gasps, her face flushed and her skin shining with a fine sheen of sweat. I lick my way up her throat and nip at her jaw.
“Go on then,” I taunt a little, reaching between us and feeling for her clit. “Give me one more like the good girl you are,” I whisper in her ear, repeating the motion as I thrust deep.
Like, woah woah woah. I need some recalibration and recuperation time rn. Nessa made me sweat sometimes.
I kiss her like she can fix the mess I’ve made of myself.
She kisses me back like she just might.
CUTIE PIES. So you get the fuckin gist - they're hot. But unfortunately, this had some <b>heavy</b> cringe too.
I mentally curse my body for being such a traitor, barely resisting the urge to curse her out loud for making me feel this way.
I thought we were really done with the 'traitorous body' bs 😭😭😭!
“Such a little whore,” I tell her as my cunt clenches around nothing.
“Your little whore."
I prefer to pretend this didn't happen, actually.
"Crawl to me like the desperate little sinner you are."
A lot of people enjoy the sexy (?) use of religion but I just find it unbearable, pls. Like in books like Priest and Hideaway there's some "confess your sins blah blah" and it's supposed to be sexy or something. Me personally...I find it yucky lol (imagine if someone did it with any other religion and it's just cringey in general).
So...yeah it's a little rough around the edges, but for the most part, this was pretty fuckin delightful. I'll leave you with this heart-melting scene for now:
“Nessa Tobin, do you take Siobhán Branigan to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honour her all the days of your life?”
Nessa’s eyes don’t leave mine as she smiles softly at me, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my damned life. “I do.”
The tough one in the relationship going soft...always does it for me.
━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
number_one_mindy's review against another edition
5.0
I am obsessed with this book! I love a good Mafia story, and the moment I saw the marriage to unite trope, I knew this was going to be good.
I actually don't know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this book.
I felt so much for these characters, I was invested for their very 1st appearance.
The writing is absolutely superb and I honestly feel bereft that I can't read this for the 1st time again!
I feel that this will be a firm favourite that will be read a few more times ❤️
I actually don't know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this book.
I felt so much for these characters, I was invested for their very 1st appearance.
The writing is absolutely superb and I honestly feel bereft that I can't read this for the 1st time again!
I feel that this will be a firm favourite that will be read a few more times ❤️
cupcakescol's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booksandblush's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.75
Sapphic mob romance done well. I honestly never read anything like this before, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite was Sebastian! I know he wasn't technically a main character, but I just loved his energy.
Obviously, check the trigger warnings, because there is some pretty dark parts.
Obviously, check the trigger warnings, because there is some pretty dark parts.
evegerbrandt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’m hooked.
bbyghoulreads's review against another edition
4.0
really enjoyed this book, it was dark and sexy and such a great spin on the usual mafia romance tropes. I’ve personally never seen a FF mafia romance so I was SO excited when I heard about this!
There were laugh out loud parts, and parts where I cried, and parts which were just so hot i died… I’ve really loved all of Scarlet King’s books so far so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this co-authored novel, it was beautiful and I desperately want to see more of this world the authors have built!
Please check the trigger warnings, the authors have made them very clear!
(ARC review)
There were laugh out loud parts, and parts where I cried, and parts which were just so hot i died… I’ve really loved all of Scarlet King’s books so far so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this co-authored novel, it was beautiful and I desperately want to see more of this world the authors have built!
Please check the trigger warnings, the authors have made them very clear!
(ARC review)