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before im attacked by the gc for a high rating on a mafia romance,,, i gave it extra points bc i ate it up AND for the ace rep, which i will ALWAYS eat up. SUE ME‼️ MY REVIEW MY RULES‼️
ok look i kinda ate this up
they were very messy! but the drama is part of the fun and tbh each time they got angry at each other i believed in the reasons lmao
the mental health stuff was very sad in this but i do think it was handled respectfully, especially for a mafia romance
“college romance” and they never really went
spoilers for the second half:
i didn’t completely love niko showing off the video of 15 year old bran being GROOMED to his family. i dont think that was necessary. they definitely would have believed bran even without seeing it
grace is DUMB AS HELL. why would you leak out evidence of you grooming someone just to prove a point 😭 dumbest mofo ive ever seen
ALSO i live for father son and son in law bonding while killing the nonce. and then not burdening bran with the knowledge they killed her for him. look, imma give respect where it is due ok. it couldve easily been a drama plot point and i was happy bran never found out. some secrets ie killing ur boyfriends abuser is all good
ok look i kinda ate this up
they were very messy! but the drama is part of the fun and tbh each time they got angry at each other i believed in the reasons lmao
the mental health stuff was very sad in this but i do think it was handled respectfully, especially for a mafia romance
“college romance” and they never really went
spoilers for the second half:
grace is DUMB AS HELL. why would you leak out evidence of you grooming someone just to prove a point 😭 dumbest mofo ive ever seen
ALSO i live for father son and son in law bonding while killing the nonce. and then not burdening bran with the knowledge they killed her for him. look, imma give respect where it is due ok. it couldve easily been a drama plot point and i was happy bran never found out. some secrets ie killing ur boyfriends abuser is all good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
fast-paced
Teddy Hamilton and Shane East.
They made me fall in love, Shane broke my heart and Teddy put it back together.
They are it.
End of.
They made me fall in love, Shane broke my heart and Teddy put it back together.
They are it.
End of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt
fast-paced
Really didn’t like the couple. I don’t think I could’ve rooted for two people less.
And I really didn’t like how Brandon’s story was handled. If the SA was planned from the start, the romance between him and Niko is so flawed and toxic. This doesn’t read as love or of a happily ever after, instead, it appears Brandon’s reliving his trauma every day with a new face. Someone violent, doesn’t take no for an answer, is rough, doesn’t give him space— is that not Grace? Now if this was a tell about him picking people who force him into a traumatic head space so he can continue his self loathing, that’ll be good. If there was no SA in the first place, would be better. However this went from “oh fun story about two assholes who deserve each other” to “what the fuck…” real fast for me. Brandon’s assault wasn’t handled with grace. The fact Niko continued to watch it after putting it together? HUH? Actually what!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
1000000000000000000/5 stars
No fucking words can describe how beautiful this book was. I had never read an MM book before, so this was a first. But I was so glad that this was the book I started with! Niko and Brans relationship was rocky at first, and the mental health aspect of each of them was just heartbreaking. The push-pull game was difficult to watch, but I seriously couldn’t get enough of them! The spice was beautiful, the characters, plot, and twists were enticing, and when I tell you I sobbed in those last 50 pages… my GOD! It was amazing! I was thoroughly surprised how much Brans story and his character made Lan’s character make so much more sense to me! But my gosh this was just such a beautiful story and I loved every second of it.
If you’re struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You aren’t alone in anything 💕💕
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (you can text and call this number.)
No fucking words can describe how beautiful this book was. I had never read an MM book before, so this was a first. But I was so glad that this was the book I started with! Niko and Brans relationship was rocky at first, and the mental health aspect of each of them was just heartbreaking. The push-pull game was difficult to watch, but I seriously couldn’t get enough of them! The spice was beautiful, the characters, plot, and twists were enticing, and when I tell you I sobbed in those last 50 pages… my GOD! It was amazing! I was thoroughly surprised how much Brans story and his character made Lan’s character make so much more sense to me! But my gosh this was just such a beautiful story and I loved every second of it.
If you’re struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You aren’t alone in anything 💕💕
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (you can text and call this number.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
86 | B | 4.0 ★ | Quite Good
Finally, I reached the book that flooded my TikTok and made me want to pick this series up. I'm glad to report that it didn't disappoint :)
Brandon has been one of my favorite characters throughout the series thus far, so I was super excited to get to his book. Here was a guy who touched literally everyone - and could bring together Elites and Heathens just by virtue of being a great guy. So you can imagine how my heart broke when we moved into his POV, and we learn how utterly filled with self-loathing he is. Throughout this book, I would often feel my stomach literally drop at his perspective of himself. I had my suspicions of what might have happened to him all the way from book 1, even though, in retrospect, the comment that made me think that could not have actually been referring to The Event. The deeper we went into this book, the bigger my sense of dread became. Because things were resolving themselves, yet we still weren't talking about it--not even in his own head. Which, to me, was a clear indicator of where we were going. Even though I knew, even though I read the signs from the early pages and had prepared myself for a potentialsuicide scene from the very first pages, it didn't stop me from crying :)
Someone so reserved as Brandon, so certain of his own worthlessness, yet so determined to contain it so no one but him will hurt--and god, does he hurt--needs someone who will hug him and make him feel desired and loved constantly. Someone who, if they could, would stick to him 24/7 like a baby koala. Luckily, Nikolai is a clingylittle big fella. I think he would spend all his days attached to Brandon at the hip if he could. Which personally I found cute. That man was enamored with Bran from the get-go and you got to love him for that. Nikolai's own demons were not as deeply explored as Brandon's, but I feel like that's because, in a sense, he has a better grasp of himself.
That being said, it doesn't mean they didn't interfere in their relationship. At a certain point, I did find all the ghosting,especially right after finding out about Bran cutting himself , a little tedious. On both sides, really, but more so on Niko's since he was the one chasing after Bran and promising him he was okay with the way things were, only to then actually not be. But then again, Nikolai is still very young, even though none of the 18-19-year-olds in this series ever act their age. I swear, if Kent didn't remind me every once in a while, I'd assume they're all 23-26 years old.
The weakest part of this series remains its villains. This one is no exception. Bran's emotional state and journey were definitely the most poignant ones we got so far, but the way things went down at the end confused the heck out of me. Whaton earth was that woman thinking? It's one thing to groom and rape a child. It's a whole other thing to have a clip of it, with him begging you to stop and then send it to his boyfriend. Like, what's the thought process there? What did she think was going to happen? The boyfriend is not the kid you groomed and convinced to keep quiet by drowning him in shame and gaslighting him that no one will believe he didn't want it because he kissed you back (which is beside the point. You slept with a 15-year-old. Whether he consented or not--which he didn't, verbally so, in your own clip doesn't matter). He has absolutely no reason to keep quiet. Like WTF.
Plot - 17/20
Characters - 18/20
Relationships - 18/20
Writing - 15/20
Reading Experience - 18/20
Final score: 86
Finally, I reached the book that flooded my TikTok and made me want to pick this series up. I'm glad to report that it didn't disappoint :)
Brandon has been one of my favorite characters throughout the series thus far, so I was super excited to get to his book. Here was a guy who touched literally everyone - and could bring together Elites and Heathens just by virtue of being a great guy. So you can imagine how my heart broke when we moved into his POV, and we learn how utterly filled with self-loathing he is. Throughout this book, I would often feel my stomach literally drop at his perspective of himself. I had my suspicions of what might have happened to him all the way from book 1, even though, in retrospect, the comment that made me think that could not have actually been referring to The Event. The deeper we went into this book, the bigger my sense of dread became. Because things were resolving themselves, yet we still weren't talking about it--not even in his own head. Which, to me, was a clear indicator of where we were going. Even though I knew, even though I read the signs from the early pages and had prepared myself for a potential
Someone so reserved as Brandon, so certain of his own worthlessness, yet so determined to contain it so no one but him will hurt--and god, does he hurt--needs someone who will hug him and make him feel desired and loved constantly. Someone who, if they could, would stick to him 24/7 like a baby koala. Luckily, Nikolai is a clingy
That being said, it doesn't mean they didn't interfere in their relationship. At a certain point, I did find all the ghosting,
The weakest part of this series remains its villains. This one is no exception. Bran's emotional state and journey were definitely the most poignant ones we got so far, but the way things went down at the end confused the heck out of me. What
Plot - 17/20
Characters - 18/20
Relationships - 18/20
Writing - 15/20
Reading Experience - 18/20
Final score: 86
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Torture
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is probably my favourite book of the year. It's characters are well developed and it's plot has everything you could need in a dark romance book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Read the trigger warnings beforehand!
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
medium-paced
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
Niko is approximately the best personality ever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
guys can we be serious this book was terrible... the writing -dialogue in particular-, the plot, the characters...just extremely Not Good. i'm being very generous and kind in giving this 1.5 stars (rounded to 2 on goodreads), which it only gets because there was just enough for me to finish reading the whole thing so that i could hate-review with credibility. is this what wattpad is like? it was bad. people. this is not good writing and it hurts me to think that there are people out there missing out on better writing. like log onto ao3 and there are at least 70,000 fics better than this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Mental illness