Reviews

Heart of a Monster by Shain Rose

fnicholee's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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mar_racing_fan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

mikelvsmathe's review

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DNF 65%

Comenze leyendo este libro ya que tiene conexión con los libros de "tarnished Empire".Entre sin expectativas pero siendo sincera los primeros capítulos eran lo mejor... Iniciemos por partes: 

Katie:
Es un personaje fuerte, inteligente, astuta y varias cosas más que hicieron que el personaje fuera increíble.
"—Preocúpate de salvarte a ti mismo, Rome. Nunca he necesitado que un caballero venga a rescatarme. Cabalgo en mi propio caballo y, si se me escapa y desaparece, puedo salir por mi propio pie, con las armas en ristre."

"Llegaría a la cima, demostraría que era una compañera digna y sería mejor que todos ellos."

El padre de Katie fue una gran influencia para la personalidad de esta (es lo que siento yo) 

"—Nunca dejes que te vean acobardarte o echarte atrás, Katalina. Eres mejor que nadie."

"Demuéstrales que estabas destinada a destacar y alzarte sobre ellos."

El padre era INCREÍBLE, bueno... por otra parte, por todo lo que paso Katie también fue uno de los puntos para que fuera una protagonista fuerte... PUEDO DECIR QUE ME GUSTÓ TODO ESTO ¡PERO! por momentos Katie llegaba a estresarme, tan estresante como Rome.

Rome:
JESÚS! ESTABAMOS TANNN BIEN Y LLEGANDO A LA MITAD ESTE PERSONAJE SE VOLVIO PESADO.

Siento que he llegado a más de la mitad del libro y Rome es como un desconocido en su propio libro. Rome se veía como un buen personaje y JURO QUE PENSE QUE ME GUSTARIA PERO ¡NO! se volvía más estresante a mitad de libro, siempre REPITIENDO que Katie era un madilto cebo, se enfadaba hasta porque Cade se reía. (CON ESO LO DIJE TODO)

Y LLEGAMOS AL ODIOSO TRIÁNGULO AMOROSO ¿Necesario? no lo creo, no entiendo porque era necesario meter a Bastian en esto, eso hizo que la historia me comenzará a irritar y ¿OK? BASTIAN TENIA MÁS QUIMICA CON KATIE QUE EL PROPIO ROME, ¡Rome siendo el protagonista!... Conocía más a Bastian que el propio Rome, por un pequeño momento pensé que Bastian se quedaría con Katie (algo imposible)
 
"Me tensé cuando miró a Bastian y sonrió con adoración." 

BASTIAN ES UN AMOR POR CIERTO. Adoré como trató a Katie (mucho mejor que Rome)

LA RELACIÓN ENTRE KATIE Y ROME:

¿Hubo un avance? Tal vez ni siquiera lo note, siento que no había avances en la relación de estos dos, siempre volviendo al inicio, lo admito me estaba aburriendo de esto. 

(ESTO NO ES TAN IMPORTANTE) Una cosa que me tomó desprevenida es que todo el círculo de "amistad" se conocen porque todos se acostaron entre todos, no fue un problema pero si fue algo gracioso de leer, como todo los personajes de la historia se habían metido entre ellos.

Pero en fin, tal vez pueda retomar el libro en un futuro. 

mandysmess's review against another edition

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4.0

This mafia romance was a first for me. It was a rollercoaster in parts but it fell slightly short for me. It took me longer to read than usual because there was just something missing. I think in part, the characters were hard to connect with. Maybe it was just me but I also found the first half of the book more slow paced than I would have preferred. About 70% of the way in, it picked up a bit more and I was able to finish it but I’d be lying if I didn’t say this almost became my first DNF.

I still gave it 4 stars because I recognize that maybe the mafia romance just isn’t my cup of tea but the storyline itself wasn’t bad. I just wanted… more?

It ended with a cliff hanger so I’ll definitely read the next one and hope it draws me in a bit more!


Spice:

katemarieshorts's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

shaykay's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One of the reading goals that I have for 2023 is to read at least one author from every author that is going to be at the Sweetgrass Author event in 2024, and Shain Rose is one of the authors that is going to be there! I read Fractured Freedom by her last year and really loved it, and I saw a TikTok video hyping this duology, and I just could not wait to give this book a try. Overall I liked what was going on in it, but the romance wasn't really my favorite thing. I feel like it was really forced, and I just wanted more from it. However, Katalina is amazing, and I loved getting to see her learn how to stand up for herself, and it was just an incredible evolution for her in this one. This one does not end with a happily ever after, it is a duology, and things are supposed to wrap up in the next book, but I am way more curious about how she's going to step up and be a leader!
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katieritoch's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

millie_980's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

jayjayaskew's review against another edition

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2.0

I was insanely confused the entire book. Am I reading a love triangle? Or is this fake dating? Or is this Mafia? Or all of the above? Idk man. Imma read the next book bc I still like Rome and Katie lowkey but I'm confused. Also it took my like 6 days to read which has never happened with such a smaller book.

merr_cactus's review against another edition

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3.0

Damn. I rlly don’t know how to feel about this book. I loved Rome since ‘Inevitable’ and rlly could feel the possible love story between the two since then. At the same time I think the author messed up on a small piece of their story. In ‘Reverie’ Vick says that she walked in on them whilst they were on in bed (hence, had slept together) and in their timeline rn, Katie and Rome don’t sleep together until AFTER Vick and Jet get married. Nevertheless, that little detail did bug me a little.

I think the author’s writing has massively improved and I genuinely LOVED the first few scenes and the whole Cleopatra and Poe letter thing. Like I LOVE IT when the otp have something which just screams THEM. Also loved that from the get go they were meant to be (but at the same time it wasn’t overly emphasised)

You realize I’m a mixed woman in a dark alley dressed like a hooker, and a cop with a loaded gun is asking me to step out of the car, right?” The hitch in her voice had me searching past the stone of her eyes, looking for the hint of fear. “I’m not scared, Rome. I’m pissed. I shouldn’t have to be scared, nor should any woman. The imbalance in power is what makes this all so sickening. No woman should have to be nervous when she’s stopped by a cop in the middle of the night.”
I LOVED KATIE and whatever she stood for. Her childhood sucked top level and honestly I did get frustrated with her choosing to live SUCH a lifestyle and playing with her life as if it meant nothing. Her father killed himself so that she wouldn’t have to do such a thing. But then I realised that she was meant for this life. She was meant to be the woman to sacrifice her life to save the rest of women from doing the same. Unfortunately, there were times when I was annoyed at her like no other. Like at the end, I rlly wished she didn’t go in just for the sake of information. Like I just felt that happened just to extend the story and add a climatic shift. Like ok the idea of her mother being a Bratva princess was good but why didn’t Bratva act before (surely she was the arm candy of Bastien before as well) so why now?! Also the whole I am going into the enemies’s gang so that I could get more information on my parents and honestly I don’t know if my uncle is a nice guy who liked his sister and would treat me like his niece or is a psychotic leader who has messed up fetishes. Like this girl is going headfirst, in blind rage and I hate it. And she’s leaving Rome n all because she was never a part/equal of them. For which I think fair. But wasn’t that a good blackmail. Like tell Bastien, I could be a secret agent for you and get you info, in turn give me a role and power in your gang.
“I can’t do that,” I said. “Won’t let anyone else do it.” “So you’ll choose her over the family?” “She is my family. And I’m hers.”“More than this one?” he whispered.“More than any one,” I replied


Rome x Katie reminded me a lot of Gianna x Christian. (Though, I love the latter immensely more) In terms of the fact that she’s the passed around trophy and one that is drooled after and he’s the cold-ish one who’s tried to abstain from her charms for years. And at the end of the day, they both are these broken pieces that were meant to fix together. And no to mention the SAME chemistry of the ml going nuts and trying to protect her and the fl being a girl boss and tired of taking shit from men.

Let’s talk about Rome. I love that name. I love his tattoos. I loved that she got his words as tattoo, wish that was mentioned again though. I love the whole ‘if she bleeds, I bleed. And if she dies, I die” like this man is a all or nothing kind of guy and I’m LOVING IT! ALSO HE CRIED WHEN SHE LEFT. HE WAS FREAKING ON HIS KNEES CRYINGGGGGG AND DAMN I RLLY WANTED HER TO TURN AROUND AND SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL ON HIS KNEES BEGGING HER AND SHEDDING TEARS THAT IM SURE HE’S NEVER SHED BEFORE.

Also I genuinely like Bastien and can’t wait to read his story.