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zapndoubletap's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Grief, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
amanda_reads13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is bringing Hogwarts for Mafia vibes. This series needs to be read after the Brutal Birthright series. This book features Leo (Sebastian and Yelena's son), Anna (Miko and Nessa's daughter), and Dean (Leo's cousin).
At first I really felt bad for Dean. He seemed really misunderstood and like the underdog. He is understandably angry at Leo's family for killing his grandfather. My empathy for his situation only lasted for a few chapters. He was out for revenge and would do anything to get it, including persuing Anna. He treated her like a pawn in his revenge plot, like she was an object to be had and manipulated.
I really loved Leo and Anna's relationship. They grow and mature considerably throughout the book, both individually and as a couple. I hated how, eventhough they had such a strong connection, miscommunication drove them apart in a day. I guess that does show how young and immature they are.
I wish that instead of the love triangle, we had more of Leo and Anna growing as a couple.
Tropes: childhood best friends-to-lovers, family rivalries, love triangle, mafia
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual content, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
andeng's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Drug use, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Bullying
psyched_np's review
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Bullying, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
folkofthebook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked this book up to get to the third book of the series, The Bully (because I'm a sucker for bully romance), but all the reviews kept insisting on readers starting from the first so I begrudgingly abided.
I found myself impressed by Sophie Lark's ability to pull me into this world she's built; granted, the setting is at an academy, and I love academy so that probably explains it, but I tip my hat to her.
Secret isolated academy? Check.
Beautiful Mediterranean setting? Check.
Tournament-esque plotline? Check.
Admittedly, I do not love that they're cousins - "by marriage, not blood." Why can't y'all just have their parents be besties like they already are and leave it at that lol but I guess that's adding the forbidden romance factor?
You can bet that I'm diving right into book two after I post this.
Check TWs
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Fire/Fire injury
shaipanda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
1. This was so longggg - not that it wasn’t without reason but like damn I was not expecting that at all and tbh I don’t know if it was entirely necessary
2. The fact that they’re cousins?? Fucking weirddd
3. I really disliked everyone but Anna tbh and *maybe* some of the other girls like Zoe and Chey
4. Absolutely no discussion of condom use or birth control or safe words when doing more kinky stuff or anythinggg
There were definitly other things too but those were the most significant for me besides the spoiler which im gonna add in a second and in the TW’s
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Torture
psydneigh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic relationship