Okay, I read this book at the end of August, but it took me till now to finally force myself to write the review, which is something over three weeks.Okay, I read this book at the end of August, but it took me till now to finally force myself to write the review, which is something over three weeks. For some reason I was having troubles voicing my opinion over this book, it was a fun read but... there are many buts.
So, I liked this book for numerous reasons. The Camorra series is the best from the author, at least for me. I so much enjoy the dynamics between the brothers, and now the girls are joining, which is so much fun. The previous books from this author seemed to be way too much focused on the couples and not much interaction outside that relationship. However, the relationships between all characters in the Camorra series is the highlight of it, and if you are not interested in the main couple, there is so much which will hold your interest.
I don't want to say that I do not like Nino and Kiara, they are a great couple and I love how much Kiara evolved. However, they are not my favourite and sometimes due to their quietness and bit of slow progress, I lose some of my interest. And this is where the other characters save the story for me because I live for the interactions between Remo, Savio and Kiara. So much fun. And since I'm already talking about this, I have to say that I cannot wait for more interactions between Savio and Serafina. And Savio with the twins is just the highlight of this book.
I'm not very happy with the fact that the book starts where Twisted Emotions ended, there is no time jump, and a huge part of this book is just Twisted Pride from Nino's or Kiara's POV. I'm generally not a fan of this, and I do not know why so many authors keep doing it. To me, it does not seem like new content.
For some reason, this book felt like a checklist. I do not know why or how, but not a single thing was surprising to me. (view spoiler)[The fertility issue, the adoption, the Falcone mother, Adamo back on drugs. (hide spoiler)] All this may seem like a great drama for the book but... it felt scripted? Not the best way to describe it but what I'm trying to say that on some level I expected all the "huge" twists from this book.
Then in several scenes, I felt like some characters were suddenly speaking way differently than they did in the previous books. And it did not suit them.
A huge grievance I have with this book is the editing. I do not recall the previous books to be so badly edited as this one. I saw several typos; miswritten words; sentences which do not make sense because of a wrong word; and then even a name of one of the characters was miswritten several times. I have no idea what happened, but I sincerely hope that this was a one-time issue, and maybe the author was rushing to publish this book on time. I sincerely hope this will not become the norm for the upcoming books. This may seem like I disliked the book which one level I did, but on the other one, I could not stop reading the book and finished in a day or so.
It's fun, I laughed a lot, there were scenes I wanted to skip, but there were also scenes I wanted to last for way longer than they did... Unfortunately, those did not include scenes between the main couple. And, that is an issue.
This was supposed to be a Nino/Kiara book, and if I think about the reasons why I enjoyed this book, it is anything but them. I never felt like they would need another book, especially so soon after their first. I expected their story to evolve in the background of the books for the other brothers, then maybe all of them would get a book where they all would have a POV or something like that. Actually, if I were to guess which couple would get another book, it would be Remo and Serafina, if only because they went from kidnapping to being parents. They did not have much of a relationship for us to see their current "normal". So, that's why I would expect another book for them.
I'm going to leave my review here. I'm not very happy with it, and I will probably edit it in a few weeks. To sum up this review, this book would be a very, very week 3 stars for me. ...more
This is probably the longest it took me to finish a Cora Reilly book.
I was not really a fan of the first Dante&Val book, but I was ready to be convinThis is probably the longest it took me to finish a Cora Reilly book.
I was not really a fan of the first Dante&Val book, but I was ready to be convinced. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
And so you do not need to read my whole review which is rather long (sorry!) the main reason why I rate this book relatively low is that I just did not enjoy reading it, it was dragging for me. Plus it started when Dante was nineteen and ended when Dante's what forty-eight or nine? It covers a pretty long time and therefore it's very jumpy, a scene here and then a scene that takes place months/years later. It was tough to get into the story and hardly even felt like a story, more like notes on what was happening in the Outfit when the focus was on different characters.
I would like to mention a few things - a bit on the side.
1) What is it with the new covers? I feel like the black&white ones fit the books better.
2) The author should fire her editor and get a refund. I feel like the editing is getting worse and worse.
3) Plus the author should probably get an editor who checks for *continuity* or maybe just more beta readers? Because in this book Nino was called Remo's oldest brother. Liliana is called Vitiello instead of Cancio. Plus I believe that even the colour of Anna's hair changed from the first book. And it's these little things which personally throw me off while reading.
So, I have to say that I quite liked the idea of the book being split into several parts and each focusing on one betrayal.
The First Betrayal Not going to lie, I loved this one. It was fun to read, and it gave me hope for this book. Dante's POV was fun; I enjoyed the way he was thinking and how he took action. (view spoiler)[ I had to wonder how much the things would have been different if he did not kill Jacopo. (hide spoiler)]
The Second Betrayal I actually thought that this was a bit of wasted opportunity. I wanted to see more than this one scene.
Side note: both of these parts were very short.
The Third Betrayal And this is when my problems with this book really started—the moment when we hit the previous content but now only in different POV. This one follows their first book, and I'm not sure what to say here, so, I'll put my comment which I have for Dante&Val relationship as a whole here. Even from Dante's POV and him saying I still do not feel like he loves her. And for how small Carla's part was his feelings toward her resonated more than anything towards Val. And I don't mean it just here but the moment I finished the book I still had a hard time believing his love towards Val.
The Fourth Betrayal I don't know what to say here... it just reminded me of how idiotic plan Aria had. What else can I say?
And to Orazio, I always wondered what was behind his betrayal. I had no idea what it could be, and I have to say that Orazio just became totally precious. On that note, I have to say that while I liked Val's father in the previous book, he seemed like one of the few decent parents in the whole series, I now take that back.
The Fifth Betrayal And my biggest issue with the whole book. This one probably takes a little less than half of the entire book, and it's again Twisted Pride from different POV. We got Twisted Pride, then Twisted Pride retold from Nino's and Kiara's POVs and now through Dante's and Val's POVs. While I liked Twisted Pride, I don't think that we needed to read it in so many different POVs, it's getting too much. Yes, I did expect that this book would reflect on it, but I did not expect that that would happen to this extent. While it was interesting to see what was Remo only predicting in the Twisted Pride, it also got a bit tedious. I mean different characters using precisely the same words to describe something?
Danilo called to inform me that Serafina was kidnapped by the Camorra. I assume we'll have to postpone the wedding then.
I feel a little bit bad that I laughed at this sentence. I cannot help it, at the moment it felt like such a sass! I mean, sure, go ahead, we can proceed with the wedding right away.
And I have to say that from this part the story turned rather sad. I was sorry for Ines and her family and how much they hurt. I was sorry for Serafina. My heart totally broke when I heard everyone talk about the children. I was like: "Take them and run!" I was sorry for Emma; she deserves better!
The Aftermath And my sadness continued. I was sorry for Anna (not only here but thought out the whole book), she has unexpected sadness about her which I did not see coming. Plus, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed by Val here, I expected more from her. (view spoiler)[Okay, I expected an arranged marriage for Anna, but I sort of expected Val to be against it, wanting her daughter to choose. I mean, she's the lady who got her husband, the Capo to let her work! I totally expected her to fight, so, that her daughter will have more choices in life. The fact that she suggested plus an outsider (Orazio called and demanded answers!) was totally shocking to me. And while it is said that Anna would be able to "handle a mere Outsider" (which sounded really bad), I have to disagree a bit. To me, Anna read rather meek, timid. Yeah, she may bicker with Leonas, but she then seemed to be very shaken by everything. Not sure yet on her. (hide spoiler)] The same with Anna being homeschooled for the majority of the book. I just felt sorry for her. I was sorry for Sofia. Poor girl does not deserve to be a consolidation price.(view spoiler)[ And seeing how she's pretty much locked up for *her safety* was totally heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]
And while the end of the book had *positives* vibes, I still have to say that I do not really feel that Dante loves Val, which is a significant setback in the story.
Few notes (again?) which I was a bit unsure where to put in my review: I found it interesting that Dante was mentioning that Camorra was a problem, etc., how he had Luca on one side and Remo on the other before they were allied. I have to say that I sort of missed a scene where he reacts to Nino and Kiara's wedding and the pact between Luca and Remo. It would have been interesting to see.
I was actually surprised that when he learned that Fabiano disappeared he did not try to look for him, especially knowing that Rocco was a poor excuse for a father who just recently got another son. Also, speaking about Rocco, (view spoiler)[ I actually find it really hard to believe that no one thought it strange that he went missing for months before Dante gave him to Remo. I mean even like mention that he went into hiding or something. I would expect that the Consigliere being nowhere to be found and on top of that impossible to reach even through phone would cause quite a chaos. (hide spoiler)]
I have to say that I believe Val&Dante deserved a better book which would be more about them because sometimes they seemed a bit like an afterthought in this book. Since so much of this book was a content we already saw in other books and the story was focused elsewhere, this made Dante for the majority of this book in defence. More like he was only reacting to things rather than setting them in motion, which then has to do with why I felt this book was dragging.
The bad guys. [...] I wondered if little boys in the Camorra asked their dads the same question when they spoke about us? Would Luca's son ask his father that question when he talked about Dante? Bad was always a matter of perspective.
Okay, hands down the best quote from this book. I can totally sing under this. Not only regarding this book but in general. And it beautifully paints why Dante and the Outfit are my least favourite by this author. Dante's book was the second in the series, and to me, it did not establish him as a character I enjoyed reading about. And ever since the Outfit was in the position of the *bad* guys. The other side. And it is now hard to again get him as the *hero* (very loose term in this series), and the *heroes* (or maybe protagonists would be better?) of the previous books are the bad guys. It just does not really work for me. The series is lacking some other bad guy....more
The first one was bad. What did I think? :o Well, I did not think, and it's not my fault. Completely. My friend and I pretty oftWhy am I reading this?
The first one was bad. What did I think? :o Well, I did not think, and it's not my fault. Completely. My friend and I pretty often switch our e-readers, and we just did. I told her about reading the first one in the series, along with the problems I had and she told me to read the rest of the series with a bit of threatening and laughing. So I did. Because I figured it could not be much worse than the first one was.
Man, was I wrong?
Where I liked the main female character more than the previous one, I seriously wanted to chuck the book out of the window.
There is not much I'm going to say about this book, but I need to say one thing.
My Russian is a bit rusty (okay, a lot).
But even I see that the author butchered it!
moy chernovolosyy koroleva
moy - is used for a male
chernovolosyy - also for a male
koroleva - and suddenly a Queen. A female.
It is not something that is in English, so I get it that it is confusing. But trust me, it looks really really bad.
There were more problems with Russian, but I think this is enough to illustrate. And the thing that bugs me is the fact that if I was writing anything and had a sentence in a language, I do not speak I would get a native speaker to check it for me. Honestly, it would take me thirty seconds to go to Facebook, find a local Expat group and I bet if I posted a question "Hello, writing a book/story. How would you say this sentence xx in Russian? Thank you!" And I'm telling you, you would get tens of answers! Was it hard? No. I have no idea why the author did not do that.
Another thing that bugs me. The main male calls the girl "his blyad". I'm not going to go into the fact this word has really, really bad connotation. But the thing that made me angry is the fact this is a five-letter word, and the author managed to mistype it three times as "blayd". And actually, it is as first used in the wrong spelling and it really confused me. No one edited this book or what? You do not need to speak Russian to see that there are two different spellings for one word!
Nope, nope, nope.
Btw, every book had so many people betraying Bratva; I'm sort of surprised there is anyone left. Or that they are not in jail, seeing that they are so many people just waiting to betray them for the right price tag.
Please, tell me that I'm not the only one who thought this was called "Owned by the BaTman". :D
Yeah, so, me being me, I had to read this one. And I soPlease, tell me that I'm not the only one who thought this was called "Owned by the BaTman". :D
Yeah, so, me being me, I had to read this one. And I sort of wish I did not. Or I wish it was about Batman instead of a Badman.
I don't even know where this book went wrong for me. I do not have many triggers points, this book definitely has a lot of those, but those were not an issue for me, except that I found the plot really annoying. Here is a little run down for you if you are interested. (view spoiler)[You get the girl sold off to a stranger. She sleeps with him right away. You get cheating. She gets kidnapped. She gets pseudo-raped. (Sorry, for calling it that but the author put so much emphasis on the fact that she actually liked it even when she hated it...) All that while pregnant. Then she gets slapped by her husband. Oh, and then the said husband leaves his wife because she did not fight the rape/not-rape. (hide spoiler)] I don't know where exactly to go with this. But the thing is, while I know many people who would hate those things and would consider them a deal-breaker in a book, it's not the point where the book went for me.
But the things that killed me were:
- Maxim's English was perfect but then suddenly turning into a caveman with broken English and don't start with me that he is Russian and speaking in a different language can be hard sometimes. It is hard, but you do not go from a speaking flawlessly to pre-school sentences. That's insulting and rather annoying even to read. - Sorry, was this supposed to be a breading fantasy? - I love a good mafia book/series, but please let the characters be really evil and not have the whole Bratva caring whether he's treating his wife right. - And I do not really know what else to say. Just that sometimes I had problems not to laugh aloud at a somewhat serious situation.
I almost forgot the most important thing. My Russian is not the best; I'm nowhere near fluent. But even I know that the author managed to butcher the bit of Russian that was included! And that made my blood boil! If you want a character speaking a different language in your book and it is a language you do not know then go and find someone who does speak said language. Because as far as I'm concerned the Russian was plucked straight out of Google Translator, and that is disappointing, to say the least....more
Why is my life so difficult? I love Stylo Fantome. I loved the Kane series, I was really surprised by the Mercenaries, and then The Bad Ones found itsWhy is my life so difficult? I love Stylo Fantome. I loved the Kane series, I was really surprised by the Mercenaries, and then The Bad Ones found its way among my all-time favourite books. But then it was a bit like hitting rock bottom with the Twin Estate which I did not even finish.
But I was excited about Church, it sounded great. Something a bit like The Bad Ones, I expected it to be great. And then... nothing happened. Where The Bad Ones went right, this went wrong.
To be honest, I still feel Church was supposed to be something like The Bad Ones, and I believe it may have worked. But the problem was that the characters were not fit for this. Where Dulcie was the big bad wolf, Emma was just... broken beyond repair and even her brilliant moments were so low I sort of wished it would just end.
You see when the book started I hated Margo, how anyone could be such a horrible mother but as the book progressed I found out that I was more indifferent towards her. Why? Because Emma was so... I don't have a word for it. I just don't like her character. I don't know why. I want to call her stupid. But really, she is not stupid. I want to call her weak. But really, she is not. I want to call her many things, but she is none of it. And there is the problem. She is insignificant. She has no real personality. She has nothing I could catch on and maybe like her for it or even despise her. I like characters I can hate. But there is nothing. I feel nothing for the characters which is a huge problem for me.
There are many things I could talk about that make no sense and were brushed off when they sure should have caused a huge problem. But I won't go there.
I liked Church or the promise of Church, but he did not live up to it. The same could be said about the whole book.
Though, I will read the second book just because the ending made a bit curious and I want to know what will happen next. Maybe this book is only suffering the fate of second books in trilogies. It is just filling, the set up for the real story.
I know that the author wanted to show the ugly truth of what life sometimes is but it did not work for me at all.
Several typos found and when I see a typo there is something really wrong....more
Okay, someone titled this book wrong. It should be "Bound by Aria's stupidity".
Where I was a bit okay with Aria being dumb in the first book since shOkay, someone titled this book wrong. It should be "Bound by Aria's stupidity".
Where I was a bit okay with Aria being dumb in the first book since she was still young and was sheltered all her life, here it was a tad too annoying. Scratch the "tad", it's unbelievable how stupid someone can be.
But let's start from the beginning.
Blurb: When Aria betrays Luca by going behind his back for her family When I read this I was disappointed because all I wanted to say was "again?" First for Gianna and then for Lily, and now again, the girl never learns her lesson.
Actually reading the book: I was surprised (and not pleasantly) to find that the majority of the book was only books 2,3,4 and 5 from Aria's or Luca's POV. I would say 3/5 of this book was a repetition of the series. Then we finally get some new content. (view spoiler)[And Aria again goes behind Luca's back for her family! How dumb this girl is? Seriously, how was she able to think that her plan was a good one! And she gets alive out of it. She just hopped on a plane, went to Chicago and expected to somehow snatch her brother and bring him to New York! I repeat, how dumb this girl is? And she's surprised that Luca is mad. And then the story moves and Luca is a bad guy in the situation? NO! Come on, if he is supposed to be the Capo, he cannot have a wife that goes into the enemy territory and repeatedly goes behind his back, and in the process, she steals money from the Famiglia. She should be dead for it! (hide spoiler)]
This is my main problem. And I will repeat it; Aria is dumb!
Luca spends so much time repeating that he cannot be soft and that no one can see his weakness. But then he goes and acts like a fool just because Aria makes puppy eyes. (view spoiler)[Like when Fabiano contacts them as an Enforcer for Camorra and asks for a meeting. And for some reason, Luca takes Aria with him... WHY?! (hide spoiler)]
As for Fabian, I'm actually interested in his story, so, I may give it a shot. Mainly because I hope he kills their father. (view spoiler)[However, I do not like Fabiano. Is he as dumb as Aria or what? He blames them for the way their father treated him. As if that idiot treated his daughters any better. And if I remember correctly, they offered him to go with them. He decided to stay in Chicago! (hide spoiler)]
Also, I'm interested in Remo Falcone; he seemed like the devil Luca was supposed to be. But let's see. (view spoiler)[However, the book here makes no sense at all. Remo comes and asks Luca not to interfere when he takes over the Camorra. And he sort of hints that maybe in the future that could be allies. But suddenly a couple of years forward they are not on friendly terms, definitely closer to the war than not. WHY?! (Okay, I guess this might be because I did not read book 5 in this series. But if I consider how much was repeated in this book, I don't get why this was not. (hide spoiler)]
As for Dante, I was never his fan but now? Probably even less. (view spoiler)[ I don't know what his plan was, but from where I stand it seems like when he found out Aria was pregnant he did not felt like personally using (okay, I should have said hurting, he definitely used her!) a pregnant woman. However, he sends her back to Luca and makes sure he gets pictures that look as if she cheated on Luca with Dante, with his enemy! And if you consider that Dante sees Luca as a monster, then I would say that Dante was hoping that Luca would snap and hurt Aria that much that she would miscarry or he would kill her and the baby as well. That much for not hurting women, especially a pregnant one. Anyone... I still don't get how anyone even for a moment could have thought that Aria has an affair with Dante like when? How? One would think that Luca would notice if his wife was going to Chicago from time to time without him... (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[In the end, Aria and Luca have two kids that no one knows about and Luca is trying to keep them hidden from the world. And I'm asking for how long? How do they think this will work? The son is Luca's heir, for how long is he going to hide him? (hide spoiler)]...more
I’d hoped I could marry for love now that my sisters had already been married off for tactical reasons.
“Gianna and I married for political reasons. W I’d hoped I could marry for love now that my sisters had already been married off for tactical reasons.
“Gianna and I married for political reasons. Why should Lily not be allowed to marry someone she wants?”
And I'm done with this series. I cannot take this any longer. How come that everyone suddenly turned so stupid? Like with the hope she'll be able to marry for love. Who could have even thought that after reading more than a page about their father? They all say how cruel he is and then they hope he'll be nice? Come on! And the huge love story that started back then when Lily fell from Romero when she was like 14- years-old or whatever? Nope, there was nothing between them, felt forced and stupid.
“Mother told me to be happy shortly before she died. And Romero makes me happy. I want to be with him.”
I thought that Gianna was dumb, but Lily takes the cake. This is just completely ridiculous. Luca actually won the Scuderi lottery. He got the only Scuderi girl that is not absolutely annoying and does not act on pure emotions. (view spoiler)[Except for some dumb decisions like helping Gianna run and then hiding Lily's secret. (hide spoiler)]
I went against his direct orders after all. That’s still a crime.”
Yes! He went against his boss, against direct orders. And after three books where Luca was painted as monster etc. he should have just put a bullet in his head and shipped Lily off to her father. This makes no sense. Same with "I won't go to war with Outfit because of this" and then suddenly "Fine, the war is happening no matter what."
Also, there are a lot of inconsistencies. Like the girl, Rocco (view spoiler)[ is going to marry (hide spoiler)] goes from being named Ramona to Maria. That's just sloppy.
So no, this series is so OVER for me. Nothing makes sense, and the characters just get more annoying with each other book in the series....more
I could not wait for this book to drop. And the moment it was there I was actually afraid to start it!
SPOILERS for the previous books included.[image]
I could not wait for this book to drop. And the moment it was there I was actually afraid to start it!
SPOILERS for the previous books included. Spoilers for this book will be hidden under the spoiler tag.
EDIT: I have no real idea what just happened. I liked the book while reading but now? I’m very angry about it. (I had to change my rating to 3 ⭐ but it feels a bit too generous if you ask me but since I rated COV 2 ⭐, I cannot go lower with this one.) I hated it when I first read the COV, and I was very happy that she died. And I was excited for Calliope and Gigi. And while I like Calliope way more than Ivy, my excitement is mostly gone.
The majority of this book is one huge flashback, rewriting things that mainly happened in the first and third book of this series. What we thought had happened, did not. We were lied to, even in chapters from Ethan’s POV. And here my problems start. And while my evil side liked what was happening, my reader part was a bit annoyed because it seems like the author tried to rewrite what she wrote in the previous books. (And I saw several people calling the first book pointless right now. And honestly? I understand where you are coming from.)
When I started reading this, I was very excited to see what will happen, but now I feel like the author picked up the worst possible solution. (view spoiler)[Ethan knew all along that he has a daughter, he was supposed to be in love with Calliope, making plans with her and Ivy was getting on his last nerve and he could not wait for her to die. Yeah, and he knew all along that his parents are alive, and he wants revenge or whatever. Also, Ethan sleeping with Ivy and everyone else was part of the plan he made with Calliope. And apparently, Calliope has some plan to destroy the Callahans. But who knows. (hide spoiler)] <-- This is the whole book in a nutshell.
Looking back, it seems as if the author took the first book and went on rewriting it and tried to give a new perspective to everything. But it does not work since we got Ethan’s POV in the first book. If it were only Ivy’s POV, I would be okay with this. But the whole “Ethan was lying to the readers does not work for me. I hated Ivy, but I always felt like the author meant for her to by the endgame for Ethan. And I have no idea if she succumbed to the hate against Ivy or if she got the idea for Calliope and decided to go with it. The Children of Vice were announced as a trilogy, it was written as a trilogy and no matter what no one will ever persuade me that this was pre-planned.
In my first review, I called this book slightly as Deus Ex Machina but honestly? It’s more like Calliope Ex Machina, she just somehow did everything. She pointed her phone at something, and she hacked into it. (I know that there is someone on the other side doing the hacking for her. But… little explanation? Not leaving everything to the last part would be nice.) Also, she reminded me a bit of Tinker Bell, but instead of a magical powder, she was sprinkling poison everywhere.
I don’t know… I liked it while reading, but now I’m very annoyed by this book. The main problem for me with this book is that it feels a bit like fan fiction or as if the author wanted to change her work, but it’s hard to rewrite something that was already published.
I would just say, read her Ruthless series which is wonderful. Children of Vice were over-all just mediocre, and if she’s trying to save it, then she’s failing.
Also, it was mentioned in my now scratched review, but I have to mention it again, the editing of this series is getting worse or what?! Errors and typos were always in all series by this author (along with continuity errors – like the age of the characters, what someone was wearing in the same scene etc.) but this book? I even had to re-read sentences to make sure if I understood them correctly. And, this is not on the author since her work is edited, the editor dropped the bomb and the author should ask for money back.
And the first chapter already came with a huge twist! Which I loved! Which I hoped for! "YES! I KNEW IT!"
And I already loved where the book was going.
However, the "past" part was a bit too long and dragged out, and I sort of wished it would end finally. Vicious Minds were supposed to be one book, but because of the length, the author split it in two. And I have to wonder. Did the book suffer because of it? (I'm not even thinking about the terrible wait we have in front of us!) What I mean is that if the book was whole, I believe that a chunk of the "past" part would be cut out of the story and maybe that would help with the fluency of the story.
When I started reading the Children of Vice series, I hated the first one. I rated it 2* mainly because Ivy was just a waste of space and Ethan was not living up to my expectations. And since Ivy is now gone and we are getting a new perspective on the events from the first book, I'm happier, and it makes more sense. However, at the same time, I have to say that it is obvious that the author did not plan on this book from the beginning because it's an absolute turn from the beginning and now the actions are interpreted differently but not always it works. But seeing how much I hated Ivy, I don't care. She's gone, that's all I needed. (view spoiler)
Calliope is a fantastic character! Well, it's not hard to be better than Ivy, but still, she is wonderful. (view spoiler)
I wish there was a bit more on the present story, but I guess we will get that in the next book.
I'm sad that there was not a bit more of Gigi.
However, this book was full of twists, and I have no idea what's going to happen next! (view spoiler)
Sometimes Calliope seemed a bit like Deus ex machina. So, I hope this will be explained as well in the next book.
I cannot not mention the several typos I found in the book.
All in all, this is somewhere between three and four ⭐but since Ivy is gone, I'll go with four. ...more
“If a man wants my heart he’s going to have to find it and then just take it because I don’t offer it to anyone.”
After loving the original series and “If a man wants my heart he’s going to have to find it and then just take it because I don’t offer it to anyone.”
After loving the original series and being extremely disappointed with Ethan's book, I almost didn't read this one. You see, I never really liked Donna.
Well, I'm really glad I still read it. This one was super fun; I was constantly laughing. There were so many great comebacks! A bit of redemption for the disappointing start of the series.
And to be honest, (view spoiler)[Gabriel (hide spoiler)] is awesome. Good thing that he and Donna are getting their own series.
Well, I don't know what to say. I wasn't really a fan of the previous book, especially because I never found a way how to like Hartley. But the HUGE cWell, I don't know what to say. I wasn't really a fan of the previous book, especially because I never found a way how to like Hartley. But the HUGE cliffhanger forced me to read this book asap. Well, after finishing my review, I feel like I'm even generous with my rating. Funny thing that I always realize how angry a book made me only when I write the review.
Let's start from the beginning. The whole "(view spoiler)[ amnesia thing (hide spoiler)]" it only seemed to me like the author didn't know what to do with the plot and thought that this would be an amazing plot or solution. Well, no, sorry, it was not.
I'm not a doctor but (view spoiler)[, so she remembers nothing, and they just send her to school? Like nothing happened, you would expect some sort of counseling and "transition," tests what she remembers and what not. I get that her parents are assholes, but I would think that this would alert social services or someone that a girl who remembers nothing is just sent to school. Same with Sebastian, he woke from god knows how long coma a guy that is going to trial for murder just gets him out of the hospital and then he is in school like a couple of days later. (hide spoiler)] Really don't get that and I would be really surprised if that were how that worked in the US. (view spoiler)[Talking about a guy who committed a murder. It was said that he was also being charged with an attempt to kill Ella as well. - Btw, when did he try to kill her? Because what happened at the end of the Twisted Palace did not seem like attempted murder to me. But still, she is a major witness in the case. He should not be allowed anywhere near her! But he can just come to the house where she lives? No restrictions on that? Seriously? (hide spoiler)] And since I'm already talking about the lack of action from CPS or anyone for that matter, let's add other issues. (view spoiler)[ So, at the end Hartley's dad is dead, her mother just packs her backs and goes away as well as her older sister. And no social services, CPS or anyone is involved when she leaves Dylan, her 13-year-old daughter with the family of the guy her 17-year-old daughter is dating? And do not tell me that it's the money. The case was under media scrutiny; they would definitely report on that. (hide spoiler)]
Okay, this feels like this review is going to be full of spoilers.
(view spoiler)[ I won't really comment on Callum going to Dubai to close a deal when his son is in a comma. If Sebastian was in a comma like for a month or so then okay but it was what? Days? Week? And he was off and left Easton in charge of everyone. As if he wasn't drinking all the time and Callum was aware of that. You would guess he would at least force Gideon or Reed to come back. (hide spoiler)]
As for Easton. In the last book, I was really angry about his behavior towards Ella. And to be honest several times in this book it was even worse than in the previous one. As well as his behavior altogether. (view spoiler)[He made no sense at all. He was just making things worse on purpose and then trying to excuse himself. (hide spoiler)]
Okay, so little miss Hartley. Still, don't like her. And have nothing much to say about her. Only that her actions were sometimes really stupid and forced her to do things were complicated. Maybe she should keep her mouth shut, just maybe sometimes.
The first half of the book is really slow and almost pointless.
We got some mandatory Felicity drama. Again sort of doing the same to get rid of the mean girl as Ella did. (view spoiler)[ Really don't get the Kyle thing. So Felicity set it up, and her parents just went with it? I understand that Kyle did it for money but don't understand why he punched her. Makes no sense at all. (hide spoiler)]
Then there is Steve who just won't go away. And I already voiced some of my issues about him in some of the previous spoilers. But let's add another. (view spoiler)[ So he has an ankle bracelet to monitor where he goes. And put that together with the fact that he should not be allowed anywhere near Ella he should be in jail for being at Royal's place. But okay, let'S pretend he could just order Ella in his car and all would be fine. Then to his suicide, come on, that was only a stupid way how to finish the book and close the Steve's issue without writing about the trial. (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[Also, Steve just goes crazy, shooting anything and everything. It also gets revealed that Easton is apparently his son. Which was suggested in the previous book by Hartley's father. I didn't believe it because a) didn't really think the author would go for the Ella and Easton kiss and b)in the first three books it was hinted that the twins were more like Steve so it would make more sense if it were them than Easton. (hide spoiler)]
Also about Hartley's father who was just behaving really stupidly and I'm sort of surprised he managed to go on with it as long as he did. (view spoiler)[He also said that he pushed Hartley at the hospital that caused her amnesia. (really convenient) But I re-read her fall, and I do not see how he could push her without anyone seeing it. They were looking at her! (hide spoiler)]
Hopefully my last issue with the book. The twins and Lauren and anything altogether. Since the author revealed that the Royals were over, no more books, no-extras no nothing I'm really confused and maybe even angry because we always got just hints on them. A built up of their story to get people interested, and I really wanted to know more about them. And the author is just like: No book for them. Okay, then at least please explain the things in this book! (view spoiler)[ The author just threw there that Lauren broke up with them which made me really angry. It was same as with Steve. Just deleting the character so I don't have to bother with an explanation. And I thought I was angry after the previous book when Lauren went from the sweet and nice girl to a complete opposite manipulative monster. But this got me angry even more. (hide spoiler)]
Also (view spoiler)[Sebastian woke up after being super angry and rude which is understandable but we won't ever know if he gets better or what. (hide spoiler)]
Wow, after letting all of my anger out I sort of wonder if there is really something I've liked about the book. Also, as some people already pointed out there were some really unnecessary typos in the book....more
Actually, I am disappointed. I loved the "original" series about Liam and Melody, and this fell a little very flat. It was nowhere near the first seriActually, I am disappointed. I loved the "original" series about Liam and Melody, and this fell a little very flat. It was nowhere near the first series. And I knew this one was going to be different. I knew that children are not their parents, but even if you take away the comparison with the Ruthless people series this book was just bad.
It may have tried to be its own thing but quite often it was building parallels with the original series. As if there was a fear to let Melody and Liam go because they were what was popular. (view spoiler)[ The hate for the Callahans at the beginning, not working relation between siblings, Ivy getting pregnant and losing the baby same as Melody. (hide spoiler)]
A lot of was missing, nothing much happened, the characters were flat compared to those in the first series.
In the end, I started to finally like at least Wyatt who was my least favourite in the original series but here there is not much to pick from.
And Dona? She is trying to be the second Melody, but she is just laughable. Petty little brat. Disappointed, I expected more from her than this.
(view spoiler)[So, Melody and Liam are still alive. Any chance of them coming back and kicking their asses? (hide spoiler)]
So, this is the end of my review and I mentioned Ivy only once... well, that's telling, isn't it? Rather a pointless character. Have nothing to say about her, she's just background noise.
+ I found a couple of typos and missing words in the book. But that's just the norm with these books....more
On one side this book's killing me! The ending always breaks my heart. It starts to break a long time beforeRe-read (12/2018): This is killing me. 🤯🌋💣
On one side this book's killing me! The ending always breaks my heart. It starts to break a long time before the end because I know what's coming. (view spoiler)[I'm not counting the fact that Mel faked her death. I hate the whole "she's dead but surprises! she's not. (hide spoiler)]
On one side, I love how cruel they still are. But on the other side, I think that the parent side of them changed them a bit. And I dislike Mel being a Governor because in a way it feels like she's going back on herself. It is not something that they would do, too many short strings that lead to them. They would just get someone to do the job for them.
The major problem I have with this book (or maybe whole series but it also continues in the Children of Vice series) is the really bad editing. And I do not even mean the typos (and there are typos don't get me wrong). I meant the fact that the consistency is non-existent in here. Previously I mentioned problems like Mel wearing a dress, suddenly trousers and then, magic, dress again. However, here and then in Children of Vice it gets even worse. When the previous book ended with the epilogue, it took time pretty much at the same time as A Bloody Kingdom. In the epilogue of the American Savages, we see Monte and Fedel waiting for Mel and Liam. But in here Melody mentions that Monte died a long time ago. And that's one of the things I really hate! And with every re-read of this series, I keep seeing more and more of these little misshaps. So, I think that there will be no re-read of this in a long time.
By the way, can I say that I do not like Coraline?
ORIGINAL: I am really torn on this one.
When the third book ended my first thought was that I cannot imagine Liam and Melody being old. With teenage kids, adult kids and then grandchildren. It wasn't them.
The thing I liked the most is that they're evil until the end. Still on top, still strong and playing the world.
At first, I sort of felt cheated. (view spoiler)[ Just saying that Monte and Jinx died that seemed cheap. They deserved much more. And Mel as a governor? I wasn't sure if that was really her. Like with the president she would get a puppet. (hide spoiler)]
I was torn on them being parents. Not sure if I like them being parents. Cause I loved them so much in the first book. Not really sure being parents is what I want from them. :D On one side they were amazing. They have so much love for their kids. But they also fear to lose them. (view spoiler)[ I understand why they started to train them to be strong and to survive. But that doesn't mean it did not break my heart a bit. Not for the kids. But for the pain, Liam and Mel had to be feeling. (hide spoiler)]
...there is a lot of blood in front of those hospital doors.
I wish there was more of a story for Fedel. He would deserve one. (view spoiler)[ Painfully loyal till the bitter end. He did not deserve to die this away! (hide spoiler)]
At first, since the chapter 24, I expected something to shatter their world. I could not stop crying. (view spoiler)[I was angry at her faking her death. This Melody in hiding? That wasn't her! (hide spoiler)]
And now, thinking about it I think it's brilliant. Sort of. I wanted her or both of them to die. In some epic was! Go up in flames and never to be forgotten! To be on top of the world. (view spoiler)[I still don't see them as two "older" people just having fun. (hide spoiler)]
I also wonder if at the end Liam also (view spoiler)[faked his death or simply passed the job and left. (hide spoiler)]
EDIT: I think this book of all four has the strongest ending. Minus like the last chapter. But since the chapter 24, I think it was one of the highest moments of the series, definitely emotionally highest because seriously, every time I get to chapter 24 until the last chapter (minus epilogue) I always cannot stop crying even though I already know how it ends!...more
EDIT (22/12/2018): I still love this series very much. It's so much to read over and over again. However, the more I read it, the more I see that it nEDIT (22/12/2018): I still love this series very much. It's so much to read over and over again. However, the more I read it, the more I see that it needs serious editing. Not only for typos but for consistency. Sudden changes in how the scene is described, what they are wearing. Those are small things, but they chip on an otherwise great book!
And what I said after my last re-read of the first book. The Italian sentences are wrong! It really seems like Google translate sentences. Please, please, go on a Facebook find an Italian (native-speaking one) and ask them to look at the sentence you have in Italian. It will be life (and the reader), saver.
3,5/5 ⭐ (It would be 4 ⭐ but I have to take something down for the Italian.
ORIGINAL:The people think you're cold and heartless, with a rich husband, and a powerful daddy. They dislike you and will continue to dislike you until you stop showing them who you really are and start being who they want you to be.
A wake-up call for Olivia?
When Melody finally gives her what she wanted for years, she still finds a ground how to bitch about life being unfair.
Melody is the queen of liars. She can put up any face she wants. Love that.
Melody is still the badass who looks where the next punch is coming.
I even liked Liam more than in the first book. He has more of a backbone and seemed way more mature. And he should seriously buy a hospital for Melody. And at the end, my heart broke a bit for him again.
EDIT (17/12/2018): I officially need to stop learning new languages! A couple of months ago I started with Italian, and it managed to destroy a book fEDIT (17/12/2018): I officially need to stop learning new languages! A couple of months ago I started with Italian, and it managed to destroy a book for me, already! Okay, the thing is, Melody is Italian, and several times she or another character speak Italian. The author several times said that she had it multiple times checked to make sure those sentences are correct. But I can say that she did not! I can see those mistakes. And I love this book or even the whole series. But honestly, I'm just angry with another series because the author butchered Russian there. And it is not fair to give this book a free pass just because I like it. I can recognise that the other author managed to butcher the language in a couple of words. McAvoy is failing on longer sentences. However, I'm telling you, it is better to have no Italian (or any language you do not know) than butcher the language. Also, because I read this book several times, I know it, and with every re-read, I see more and more typos, nonsense sentences and switches in the scenes. Like Mel wearing a dress, suddenly it's a t-shirt, and on the next page, it's a dress once again. I love McAvoy and her books because the characters are just so ruthless. However, she needs a better editor! And a native Italian.
In regards to me a little revelation, I need to lower the rating. But I can honestly say that if it was my first read, I saw the bad Italian I would be angrier. However, since I already have a little connection to the story, I'm going to be a bit nicer. (4/5 ⭐)
EDIT: I had to change the rating because this one is my favourite in the series. (5/5 ⭐)
ORIGINAL: This just randomly appeared in my Goodreads Updates Feed, and I knew I had to read it. So, I put it in my To Read shelf and move one. But some little devil was sitting on my shoulder and screaming to read it right away. And I did. (4/5 ⭐)
Love this because they are really bad guys and openly evil. And they own it. There is no good vs evil. This is about who's the biggest evil of them all! Finally! I waited so long for a book where the characters would just own that they are not good or pretend there is some higher good they do evil things for.
I don't say this very often. But I loved the main heroine. Melody was everything. Rude. Smart. Wicked. Evil. Cold. And much more. But mainly - She was a boss from start to finish. I love how at their first meeting she came on top. Knowing more then the Callahans did. (view spoiler)[ And honestly? I loved that she was so violent. Like actually firing at him! (hide spoiler)]
Liam was an idiot. But amazing idiot! I loved that his little "man-only" word was turned around.
What I really liked about this was the dynamics. Usually in books like this book you got an evil man and weeping flower. Or if she is some sort of leader, she, thanks to her love for the man, realises that she doesn't want to be like that and hands him all the power. No, they were a match set in hell.
Also, Fedel is sooo damn cute! I want to see more of him.
And I have to have some negatives. - (view spoiler)[ Really, getting pregnant? That fast? I thought she was using a pill or something? But okay when she got pregnant, I knew something would happen to the baby. (hide spoiler)] - The Liam's little play to make sure (view spoiler)[ she loves him real and forever (hide spoiler)] was a bit theatrical. But okay. - Was this a Twilight fan fiction? Because I got a bit of that vibe. Especially with the characters in the family. Even the Melody/Olivia hate was sort of Bella/Rosalie... But maybe I am seeing things that do not exist. :D - Olivia needs a good death. And quickly. She's getting on my nerves. - Some typos - not a grammar nazi. I know that I have a lot of typos and grammar mistakes, and usually I just do not realise it. But when even I see them in a book? That's not good....more
Re-Read (12/2018): I love that in this book Mel and Liam go savage, like really savage. It does not matter who stands in their way, innocent or not peRe-Read (12/2018): I love that in this book Mel and Liam go savage, like really savage. It does not matter who stands in their way, innocent or not people are dying left and right. Which is the part that I like about this book... I'm weird, I know.
The thing I do not like is the epilogue, especially since the epilogue is actually the fourth book in the series.
However, the Italian is still sort of messed up. I'm not claiming that I'm an expert in Italian, still a beginner. However, I can pick up some things that are simply wrong, and certain sentences even make no sense.
Plus, the book has its usual share of typos. It's begging for a better editor.
But despite this all, I still like this book. But, I think there will be no other re-read in a long time.
ORIGINAL: They are back and more ruthless than ever. There is nothing they won't do to avenge themselves, and no one who stands in their way is safe. I really liked it. Thought the beginning was a bit painful to watch.
(view spoiler)[Finally you killed Olivia! Thank you!!!! (hide spoiler)] - Just wish it wasn't that easy for her.
I don't get the point of the epilogue since there is the fourth book....more
Co s tímhle peklem? Příběh mě ke konci začal aspoň trochu bavit. Nicméně to rozhodně nemohlo zastínit, jak je ta kniha odfláknutá. Bohužel za to může Co s tímhle peklem? Příběh mě ke konci začal aspoň trochu bavit. Nicméně to rozhodně nemohlo zastínit, jak je ta kniha odfláknutá. Bohužel za to může české nakladatelství a kniha v originále by asi působila lepším dojmem. Upozorňuji, že nejsem Grammar Nazi, taky umím udělat pěkné boty, ale tohle bylo hodně už i na mě.
-Pomlčky mezi slovy. Jednou z každé strany měla mezeru, podruhé ne. A když je mezi tím jen jedna řádka, člověk si všimne. A nevypadá to dobře. <-- navíc se tohle stalo hned na první stránce. Toto se opakuje v celé knize, někdy je mezera z jedné strany a z druhé ne. Párkrát je pomlčka zaměněna za spojovník.
-Mezery. Další neřest. Někdy mezi slovy chyběla, někdy byla pro jistotu hned dvakrát. Nebo dělání mezer v trojtečce (samozřejmě jenom někdy, aby se nedalo říct, že to je schválně). Přesně takhle: . . .
-Uvozovky. Pro ty zjevně neexistují pravidla. Ne vždy se povedlo dát je z obou stran přímé řeči. Což byl zvlášť problém, protože v dialogu byly věty psané hned za sebou. A když chyběly uvozovky, tak asi dialog nedával moc smysl, když si člověk myslel, že stále hovoří stejná osoba. (Což bylo zmatečné, i když uvozovky byly. Nevybavuji si knihu, kde by naflákali přímé řeči dvou osob, co spolu mluví hned za sebou).
Někdy se jim teda taky povedlo dát za sebou hned troje uvozovky: ..." ""...
-Odstavce. Nový odstavec byl klidně vytvořen uprostřed věty.
-Překlepy. "rpzcuchané"
-Rody. Na začátku telefonátu je Tara ženská, se kterou má i děti. Ale v průběhu rozhovoru mu Tara odpovídaL.
-Chybějící slova. "...Trinitin vzhled mohl nějaké potíže, ale opatrnosti není nikdy dost."
Navíc jazyk a vyjadřování úplně nesedělo k hrubým motorkářům na hraně zákona. A když už mluvili sprostě, tak to znělo až téměř vtipně. Zvlášť, když vzápětí se objevila, tak spisovná věta, jak z Komenského.
Asi bych našla další věci, co mi vadily a byly odfláknuté, ale pro ilustraci to asi stačí. ...more
EDIT (July 2018): Okay, I actually think that Tate should have "left" Ang, she really should have ended their friendship. Because Ang is on a really hEDIT (July 2018): Okay, I actually think that Tate should have "left" Ang, she really should have ended their friendship. Because Ang is on a really high horse, using Tate and being a judgmental brat at best. If Nick was Tate's friend from the beginning instead of Ang her life would be way better. And I'm still a bit sour that nothing was done about Dunn and Petrushka, both deserved a horrible fate.
EDIT (08/04/2018): You know what? I'm actually angry this time around. At Tate! She was seriously getting on my nerves. And I just suddenly realized that through the series she did a lot of crappy things as well, but no one was really mad at her. Well, except for her family but they sort of don't count. Because they would be angry even if she did everything right. But every single person is punished for a single word they say, and even if it's not really about Tate, she gets angry. But then got forbid anyone mentions the pool incident to her. Or anything she did or is doing that is stupid. I don't know if I sort of outgrew Tate, and she seems childish now or what happened. But definitely, I need to change the rating. Originally it was 5* now I would rate it 3*. So I gonna go with 4*. Which is another think Goodreads need to do! They brought the ability to insert multiple read dates, and now I need the ability to rate the book separately for each read.
Original review: In the end, I wasn't really sure who I would like to slap first. Because both of them really need to start using their brains! Loved this series....more
I do not DNF because I do not like this book. I DNF because the Czech translation is absolutely horrible and I need to I need to explain myself here.
I do not DNF because I do not like this book. I DNF because the Czech translation is absolutely horrible and I need to get the English version before I can continue.
So, let me tell you the long story short. In 2012, I was in a bookshop (as usual), and I saw this gorgeous book. Let's be honest, the sky on the cover is to die for. So, I bought it. And then in 2013 I bought the second book and in 2014 the last one. But, I never read it. Until just recently, I thought that I would never read it. But because an amazing person recommended it to me, the first time I came to visit my parents, I decided to give it a chance. I read only five chapters and let me tell you, the translation is offensive with how bad it is. I looked for an excerpt to read in English. The voice of the narrator sounds completely different, in English, it's way better. Plus, there so many grammatical mistakes and typos in the Czech translation! It just made me so angry. And let me tell if I see those than something is seriously wrong with the book! Some sentences make no sense, things are wrong. When the book started, it was said that Echo and Bane are brothers but then, couple pages later it makes it sound like Echo and Bane are brothers of Soren.
I cannot bear it and let a poorly done translation destroy a potentially good book for me....more
Loading...
