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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Please take the trigger warnings seriously! This book is very difficult to read at some points
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 stars
I absolutely love this book. There are a lot of trigger warnings so read it before going into the book. I love Lina and Marcel's relationship, it was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. I was so in love with Lina, I love her courage and Marcel's love for Lina was so heartwarming. It's not a spoiler, but the way that Lina is literally one of the only people that can actually touch him is just ahhhhhh.
I love the way that veronica's books. Again it might not be for everyone, but this series and world has a chokehold on me.
I absolutely love this book. There are a lot of trigger warnings so read it before going into the book. I love Lina and Marcel's relationship, it was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. I was so in love with Lina, I love her courage and Marcel's love for Lina was so heartwarming. It's not a spoiler, but the way that Lina is literally one of the only people that can actually touch him is just ahhhhhh.
I love the way that veronica's books. Again it might not be for everyone, but this series and world has a chokehold on me.
Catalina and Marcello's story is plagued by secrets.
Catalina is haunted by an event that traumatized to her no end. An event that gave her her daughter, Claudia. When she does something in the convent where she and her daughter reside, her brother Enzo comes to her rescue to keep her safe from any retaliation from the Guerras. In order to be protected, she must marry Marcello - who's willing to marry her despite her having a daughter.
Marcello is also haunted by events in his past - his father, her mother, and a certain event that cost him the love of his life. For years, Marcello has been trying to marry Catalina. He does not care that Catalina was "ruined" and has a daughter. He likes her so he's overlooked this. But the events in his past make him keep at arm's length.
Marcello knows something Catalina does not.
Marcello and Catalina grow so much in their story. They both have things they have to move on from and they do so together. Marcello has a lot of growing to do. He's willing to make those changes to be able to be with Catalina... if she'll forgive him.
Catalina is haunted by an event that traumatized to her no end. An event that gave her her daughter, Claudia. When she does something in the convent where she and her daughter reside, her brother Enzo comes to her rescue to keep her safe from any retaliation from the Guerras. In order to be protected, she must marry Marcello - who's willing to marry her despite her having a daughter.
Marcello is also haunted by events in his past - his father, her mother, and a certain event that cost him the love of his life. For years, Marcello has been trying to marry Catalina. He does not care that Catalina was "ruined" and has a daughter. He likes her so he's overlooked this. But the events in his past make him keep at arm's length.
Marcello knows something Catalina does not.
Marcello and Catalina grow so much in their story. They both have things they have to move on from and they do so together. Marcello has a lot of growing to do. He's willing to make those changes to be able to be with Catalina... if she'll forgive him.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The religious aspect was very interesting but was not the entire focus. This book is very dark and gory and may be triggering due to the religious aspect and some content. I was confused most of the story, but it was all brought together at the end very well. I am excited to read the next 2 in the series.
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't like this story as much as the last book and not for any of the triggers or stuff that happened. It was the whole set up of the plot, the writing, and the naiveté of both main characters. Not so much Lina but Marcello. He is a complete and utter idiot. I could see Nicolo and Allegra coming a mile away. It shocked me how long it took for everything to come together. And that's what annoyed me with this story. I was so bored waiting for everything to be revealed. I was so ready for the story to be over with. It's hard to finish a book when you've seen all the puzzle pieces from the get go. The "twist" with Claudia's father wasn't even surprising. I saw that coming from the get go especially after all the hints. What I did enjoy was that addition of therapy that Marcello undertook to try and better himself and cope with his past. I love that he changed the family so Lina and other women could have a life outside of the mafia. He didn't want to be like his father and changed things for the better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Blood
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage
3.5 stars
I liked this book, but I’m glad I read this one last instead of reading it before Enzos and Vlads books. This was definitely my least favorite in the series and if I had read it first I probably wouldn’t have continued the series(so again I’m SOOO glad I read this last Bc I wouldn’t have discovered one of my new all time favorite books). I just don’t think Marcello and Linas relationship was very well developed and didn’t feel their connection. I was also MAJORLY disappointed in the role Claudia played, or should I say didn’t play. She wasn’t involved in the book literally at all and that made me so sad. There could’ve been so many scenes with Marcello and Claudia that would’ve been so good and there just weren’t any. I was also disappointed in how Lina just seemed to forget about Claudia once they moved in with Marcello, Claudia even mentions how Lina never had time for her anymore Bc she’s always with Marcello. Idk I was just looking forward to the single parent aspect of this book and it just wasn’t there at all so that disappointed me.
I liked this book, but I’m glad I read this one last instead of reading it before Enzos and Vlads books. This was definitely my least favorite in the series and if I had read it first I probably wouldn’t have continued the series(so again I’m SOOO glad I read this last Bc I wouldn’t have discovered one of my new all time favorite books). I just don’t think Marcello and Linas relationship was very well developed and didn’t feel their connection. I was also MAJORLY disappointed in the role Claudia played, or should I say didn’t play. She wasn’t involved in the book literally at all and that made me so sad. There could’ve been so many scenes with Marcello and Claudia that would’ve been so good and there just weren’t any. I was also disappointed in how Lina just seemed to forget about Claudia once they moved in with Marcello, Claudia even mentions how Lina never had time for her anymore Bc she’s always with Marcello. Idk I was just looking forward to the single parent aspect of this book and it just wasn’t there at all so that disappointed me.
dark
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
This was a good read I was very excited to learn more about Marcello especially with all the mystery surrounding him and his origins in the previous book. I did guess his secret though in regards to just who he had been but this didn’t take away from my enjoyment one bit.
Marcello’s backstory was tragic helping us to understand just how he has evolved to do the things he has done and through a series of flashbacks of a much younger Marcello we learn through his eyes some of what he has had to endure this treatment honing him into the man he is today. He’s such a strange mix of ruthless cold objectivity combined with so much self-loathing and misplaced guilt.
After the death of his brother Marcello finds himself where he never wanted to be again back in the grips of the past he had hoped to escape. To protect his sisters he will now take on the mantle of leadership he has inherited even if it is not what he wants for himself. At heart Marcello is selfless for the few people he holds dear and if a return to this life is the price he must pay to keep them safe then so be it.
Needing to marry to strengthen his ties and solidify his leadership Marcello finds the past coming back to haunt him in the shape of Catalina: Enzo’s sister that disappeared from public sight ten years back. She was both the catalyst that pushed him to finally sever his bonds with his family and also his private penance one he blames himself for to this day. Now Unable to bear the touch of another he vows that this will be a marriage in name only. But as past and present collide in the form of a copycat killer Marcello’s many sins are brought to light causing Catalina to question everything she thought she knew about the man she has come to love.
This was filled with so much tension and heartache on both sides. Marcello doesn’t believe he deserves any bit of Catalina’s love he believes his many sins are a stain that will only taint her further. But there was also healing and forgiveness here and Marcello ultimately has to learn how to forgive himself for his own actions before he can even begin to heal and move on. We also get to see much more of Enzo in this one and I’m very intrigued regarding the relationship between him and his wife and I can’t wait to learn more about them.
This was well written and engaging and I loved the contrast between the cold ruthless made man and the unsure vulnerability he only shows to Catalina it was also apparent here that no one could hate Marcello more than he himself. I’m also intrigued to learn more about his sisters. This series has definitely gripped me it is definitely dark and does contain triggers but there is also so much emotion and heart. Finally, I loved the epilogue it was great to get that brief snapshot into the future. This one gets a definite thumbs up from me.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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