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erinsbookworld's review
dark
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
theycallmeriss's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Gun violence, and Murder
captwinghead's review
1.0
This one was really rough to get through. It felt quite repetitive and, by the half way point, I couldn’t stand Winter. I’m quitting here because I knew from the last book they were building some sort of forgiveness/empathy thing for Maximo and I don’t want to see that. The dark romance theme of female protags falling for men that brutalize them will never be my thing. By the end of this, I was thinking Vito deserved better so, it’s time for me to quit.
Again, basing my rating off of the execution and not the theme itself: this story felt repetitive. The same back and forth with Gio having Winter come to meetings with gang leaders, her having no idea why, things getting intense and her going home. There’s even the monotony of being told what she was assigned to wear every day and the few events of note spread throughout the story aren’t interesting enough to make me feel like big things happened.
I knew this would tie back to Winter’s mother somehow, but being made to wait 2 books before having that confirmed was baffling. Without it, you spend 2 books being told Gio has a use for her and not being told what that use is. Which just gives way for one of my romance pet peeves: men saying the MC is special and me having no clue why. What about Winter is special? She’s naive, sympathizes for horrible men, and made a deal I still don’t understand. The book has her try to be brave and then, after seconds, she’s a coward again. Why are these men obsessed with her? Oddly enough, if she’d been written as the kind of character that kept trying to appeal to the men’s humanity and empathized with them from the start, I would’ve understood why they loved her. Instead, I am just perpetually confused.
Add to that, this story had Winter start to think Vito was “just as bad” as the others and no, he’s not. He’ll never be as bad as Maximo the perpetual rapist.
Again, basing my rating off of the execution and not the theme itself: this story felt repetitive. The same back and forth with Gio having Winter come to meetings with gang leaders, her having no idea why, things getting intense and her going home. There’s even the monotony of being told what she was assigned to wear every day and the few events of note spread throughout the story aren’t interesting enough to make me feel like big things happened.
I knew this would tie back to Winter’s mother somehow, but being made to wait 2 books before having that confirmed was baffling. Without it, you spend 2 books being told Gio has a use for her and not being told what that use is. Which just gives way for one of my romance pet peeves: men saying the MC is special and me having no clue why. What about Winter is special? She’s naive, sympathizes for horrible men, and made a deal I still don’t understand. The book has her try to be brave and then, after seconds, she’s a coward again. Why are these men obsessed with her? Oddly enough, if she’d been written as the kind of character that kept trying to appeal to the men’s humanity and empathized with them from the start, I would’ve understood why they loved her. Instead, I am just perpetually confused.
Add to that, this story had Winter start to think Vito was “just as bad” as the others and no, he’s not. He’ll never be as bad as Maximo the perpetual rapist.
bookfever's review
5.0
Ruthless Spring is the second book in the Brutal Winter series and I'm super glad to say that book number two was even better than the first one. I don't say this lightly because Brutal Winter was one of my favorite books last year but the author managed to top it. The book actually blew my away with it's darkness and twists. I loved it so so so much!
At the start of the book Winter still has nine months left of being Giovanni Costa's possession. She knows he has big plans for her but she still doesn't know what those entail and on top of that there's a hit out for her. Meanwhile Giovanni's brother Maximo is still lurking around her, wanting to absolutely destroy her. Bodyguard Enzo won't stop him because he's as much as Maximo's plaything as Winter is. And Vito? He definitely has feeling for Winter but that doesn't mean is isn't a monster as well.
I loved this book in terms of character developement. The scared little mouse is disappearing and slowly she is growing into someone who's learning to bite back when bitten. And oh boy does she get bitten a lot! I really like that it was Lucia (Giovanni and Maximo's cousin) that initially told Winter that she needs to toughen up or die, and she certainly took that advice heartily. I called book one a slow burn but with this sequel I can't say that anymore. The darkness and sex scenes were twice as much, if not even more. And I loved it all! I especially loved that Winter decided to just go with the flow as they say. She knew she couldn't change her situation so she might as well enjoy it a little bit.
I still can't decide which of the guys I like more. I think I may have a soft spot for our psycho Maximo because he went through such bad things with his father. But in the end I really like all the men even though they're twisty as fuck and monsters each and every one. The sex scenes, though, we're all so very hot, like 10/10 on the spicy chart. WHEW!
Also a shout out to Amarie, my favorite secondary character (along with Lucia) who's as enigmatic as she was in book one but there have been some hints that made me think. I think we're gonna get some answers in book three not only about her but also about Winter. I cannot wait!
Ruthless Spring by Quirah Casey is dark romance at its darkest and at its best. It's one of those books that completely consumes you and doesn't let go until the very last word. I'm utterly obsessed!
At the start of the book Winter still has nine months left of being Giovanni Costa's possession. She knows he has big plans for her but she still doesn't know what those entail and on top of that there's a hit out for her. Meanwhile Giovanni's brother Maximo is still lurking around her, wanting to absolutely destroy her. Bodyguard Enzo won't stop him because he's as much as Maximo's plaything as Winter is. And Vito? He definitely has feeling for Winter but that doesn't mean is isn't a monster as well.
I loved this book in terms of character developement. The scared little mouse is disappearing and slowly she is growing into someone who's learning to bite back when bitten. And oh boy does she get bitten a lot! I really like that it was Lucia (Giovanni and Maximo's cousin) that initially told Winter that she needs to toughen up or die, and she certainly took that advice heartily. I called book one a slow burn but with this sequel I can't say that anymore. The darkness and sex scenes were twice as much, if not even more. And I loved it all! I especially loved that Winter decided to just go with the flow as they say. She knew she couldn't change her situation so she might as well enjoy it a little bit.
I still can't decide which of the guys I like more. I think I may have a soft spot for our psycho Maximo because he went through such bad things with his father. But in the end I really like all the men even though they're twisty as fuck and monsters each and every one. The sex scenes, though, we're all so very hot, like 10/10 on the spicy chart. WHEW!
Also a shout out to Amarie, my favorite secondary character (along with Lucia) who's as enigmatic as she was in book one but there have been some hints that made me think. I think we're gonna get some answers in book three not only about her but also about Winter. I cannot wait!
Ruthless Spring by Quirah Casey is dark romance at its darkest and at its best. It's one of those books that completely consumes you and doesn't let go until the very last word. I'm utterly obsessed!
ridwa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
ravenrenee's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
novelistdienne's review
5.0
Lord
Lord what a cliffhanger and I'm eating it the fu*k up. I'm finally caught up with this series and I wouldn't mind if Quirah Casey makes her own Mafia Universe out of this cause the plot and the characters got me feeling hella noisy. I wouldn't mind a twisted dark mfm romance with Polo/Daria/Lorenzo. Or a Spin off with Lucia and Amarie
Lord what a cliffhanger and I'm eating it the fu*k up. I'm finally caught up with this series and I wouldn't mind if Quirah Casey makes her own Mafia Universe out of this cause the plot and the characters got me feeling hella noisy. I wouldn't mind a twisted dark mfm romance with Polo/Daria/Lorenzo. Or a Spin off with Lucia and Amarie
z_l_b's review
4.0
Interesting but too many grammar mistakes
It's an exciting read. But the grammar, spelling and writing errors are too much. Plus the writing tone of the book switched from book 1,lacking in passion, it was too clinical. Fortunately it switched back to how it was in book 1 and a better description.
It's an exciting read. But the grammar, spelling and writing errors are too much. Plus the writing tone of the book switched from book 1,lacking in passion, it was too clinical. Fortunately it switched back to how it was in book 1 and a better description.