Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
fast-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
dark
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 book did not give me what I wanted it to give me, and honestly, I have no one to blame but myself.
After the travesty of the last Cora Reilly releases Savio, Sofia, and Adamo's; the bar wasn't set high for future releases: however, I was pretty hyped up for the future generation - mainly Nevio/Aurora and Anna/Clifford but I digress;. For By Sin I Rise to be our first foray into the future of Cora Reilly, this introduction to new and old characters was severely disappointing. However before I begin I just want to say that this is NOT a hate review, but I am a little mad.
1. Telling and not showing If you want me to believe that that Maddox is supposed to be Mad Dog then you are failing because I can't. I really can't. Because WHERE is it? I hate when authors tell us who this person is supposed to be and give us this story of how they became that person but you don't actually see the character being that thing they're supposed to be. If I'm not going to see Maddox be this mad dog then why is that his nickname. In part two I really need to see Maddox live up to that nickname.
2. Maddox White Lord why? What did I ever do to deserve this? I love MC books. The characters are usually dark and gritty, but Maddox did not serve anything, besides stale bread. He was just there, like a stand-in. He could've been taken out of this book and replaced with any character because what did he truly offer? I'll tell you not a fucking thing.
And the sad thing is is that the potential was there. It was there!!!! He had the sad past and the3 motive but the execution was just terrible. And his inner monologue about Marcella being this queen - which she is - was so tiring. There should have been more of an inner struggle with feeling for Marcella even though he wants to kill her father, and his duty to his club than what we got.
3. Marcella Vitiello I liked Marcella, I really did. But I don't love her character, not the way I wanted to. She was different then our usual female characters that Cora writes which usually ranges from super naive of everything and everything to I'm not like those other girls. Marcella was aware of everything and she used her beauty to her advantage I appreciated that.
But like Maddox I wish there was more struggle from her regarding her feelings. Sure she fought for herself and try to hold out hope for her father to come, and she didn't break down immediately which was great but I wanted more from her. And added bonus - for me at least - Marcella actually experienced some trauma from the MC.
4. The reuse of old tropes I know tropes get recycled and that's cool that's fine. Sometimes they're done better and sometimes they're not. In this case I liked Twisted Pride better. I wanted something new for the new generation which is why I'm excited for Nevio/Aurora as well as Anna/Clifford.
5. The Romance What in the fuck was this romance? There wasn't a steady progression of the romance to warrant the three little words Marcella and Maddox exchanged and it pisses me off. Cora split this book into two parts, and I didn't like the idea because it felt unnecessary but I figured at least with two parts the development we would see with the romance would be more of slow burn that allowed the characters to go through their feelings and actually spend the time understanding one another. But did Cora set that up? Of fucking course not.
Their relationship started with lust and nothing is wrong with that put when you have the kidnapping trope you have to navigate how to make the feelings feel real enough throughout the story to get to that I love you and I would kill for you stage and it wasn't executed at all.
6. Amo Vitiello How did this boy go from relaxed video gamer to murderer and interrogating. That fast switch made no sense to me, despite the circumstances. So hopefully in his book with Greta we get a flashback to that moment and his thoughts.
7. Luca and Aria They were there. We saw them. I'm still not a big fan of them.
8. The Cliffhanger I'll be honest I didn't see that ending coming but the cliffhanger did it's job, it made me want to read part two and see what happens next.
After the travesty of the last Cora Reilly releases Savio, Sofia, and Adamo's; the bar wasn't set high for future releases: however, I was pretty hyped up for the future generation - mainly Nevio/Aurora and Anna/Clifford but I digress;. For By Sin I Rise to be our first foray into the future of Cora Reilly, this introduction to new and old characters was severely disappointing. However before I begin I just want to say that this is NOT a hate review, but I am a little mad.
1. Telling and not showing If you want me to believe that that Maddox is supposed to be Mad Dog then you are failing because I can't. I really can't. Because WHERE is it? I hate when authors tell us who this person is supposed to be and give us this story of how they became that person but you don't actually see the character being that thing they're supposed to be. If I'm not going to see Maddox be this mad dog then why is that his nickname. In part two I really need to see Maddox live up to that nickname.
2. Maddox White Lord why? What did I ever do to deserve this? I love MC books. The characters are usually dark and gritty, but Maddox did not serve anything, besides stale bread. He was just there, like a stand-in. He could've been taken out of this book and replaced with any character because what did he truly offer? I'll tell you not a fucking thing.
And the sad thing is is that the potential was there. It was there!!!! He had the sad past and the3 motive but the execution was just terrible. And his inner monologue about Marcella being this queen - which she is - was so tiring. There should have been more of an inner struggle with feeling for Marcella even though he wants to kill her father, and his duty to his club than what we got.
3. Marcella Vitiello I liked Marcella, I really did. But I don't love her character, not the way I wanted to. She was different then our usual female characters that Cora writes which usually ranges from super naive of everything and everything to I'm not like those other girls. Marcella was aware of everything and she used her beauty to her advantage I appreciated that.
But like Maddox I wish there was more struggle from her regarding her feelings. Sure she fought for herself and try to hold out hope for her father to come, and she didn't break down immediately which was great but I wanted more from her. And added bonus - for me at least - Marcella actually experienced some trauma from the MC.
4. The reuse of old tropes I know tropes get recycled and that's cool that's fine. Sometimes they're done better and sometimes they're not. In this case I liked Twisted Pride better. I wanted something new for the new generation which is why I'm excited for Nevio/Aurora as well as Anna/Clifford.
5. The Romance What in the fuck was this romance? There wasn't a steady progression of the romance to warrant the three little words Marcella and Maddox exchanged and it pisses me off. Cora split this book into two parts, and I didn't like the idea because it felt unnecessary but I figured at least with two parts the development we would see with the romance would be more of slow burn that allowed the characters to go through their feelings and actually spend the time understanding one another. But did Cora set that up? Of fucking course not.
Their relationship started with lust and nothing is wrong with that put when you have the kidnapping trope you have to navigate how to make the feelings feel real enough throughout the story to get to that I love you and I would kill for you stage and it wasn't executed at all.
6. Amo Vitiello How did this boy go from relaxed video gamer to murderer and interrogating. That fast switch made no sense to me, despite the circumstances. So hopefully in his book with Greta we get a flashback to that moment and his thoughts.
7. Luca and Aria They were there. We saw them. I'm still not a big fan of them.
8. The Cliffhanger I'll be honest I didn't see that ending coming but the cliffhanger did it's job, it made me want to read part two and see what happens next.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
*There might be some spoilers *
I'm gonna be honest, the last few books had been a big disappointment for me.. Cora's writing style wasn't the same and that made me kinda sad to see my favorite series having such low reviews.
So about this one..
At the beginning I wasn't sure what i felt about Marcela, she seems to be just another spoiled mafia princess, which she is i guess, but she has Vitiello blood and she has a back bone on her.
Maddox I don't understand what's the nickname Maddog had anything to do with him he's more like a puppy.. i don't like how he handled the situation and how he betrayed his club even if it was for the women he "loves"
I've been waiting to read Lucas's POV of the things that happened but his reaction didn't give me satisfaction.
And Aria? I felt like she didn't care enough? Sorry? Am i the only one?
I'm not gonna lie i thought this was going to be another Serafina and Remo retelling especially after i know there's a kidnapping, there are more topics to have but it get a pass on this one.
I know that the mafia world is complicated and dangerous but after all these kidnappings and threats couldn't they at least teach their women and children how to protect themselves...
Also what's the importance of a business degree if women aren't allowed to be part of the business, and that's something i don't like about the mafia.
And some scenes though....
Maddox has only seen her once and she's already hunting his dream? Wasn't he supposed to think about revenge?
And for the love of God if i read the word "CRAEAM" one more time I'll lose it.
One last thing i think it could've been just one book in one part.. the story could've ended there but i guess we have to wait and see what's will happen.
I really really hope the next one or ones will be better ❤
I'm gonna be honest, the last few books had been a big disappointment for me.. Cora's writing style wasn't the same and that made me kinda sad to see my favorite series having such low reviews.
So about this one..
At the beginning I wasn't sure what i felt about Marcela, she seems to be just another spoiled mafia princess, which she is i guess, but she has Vitiello blood and she has a back bone on her.
Maddox I don't understand what's the nickname Maddog had anything to do with him he's more like a puppy.. i don't like how he handled the situation and how he betrayed his club even if it was for the women he "loves"
I've been waiting to read Lucas's POV of the things that happened but his reaction didn't give me satisfaction.
And Aria? I felt like she didn't care enough? Sorry? Am i the only one?
I'm not gonna lie i thought this was going to be another Serafina and Remo retelling especially after i know there's a kidnapping, there are more topics to have but it get a pass on this one.
I know that the mafia world is complicated and dangerous but after all these kidnappings and threats couldn't they at least teach their women and children how to protect themselves...
Also what's the importance of a business degree if women aren't allowed to be part of the business, and that's something i don't like about the mafia.
And some scenes though....
Maddox has only seen her once and she's already hunting his dream? Wasn't he supposed to think about revenge?
And for the love of God if i read the word "CRAEAM" one more time I'll lose it.
One last thing i think it could've been just one book in one part.. the story could've ended there but i guess we have to wait and see what's will happen.
I really really hope the next one or ones will be better ❤
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
i have a lot of questions
dark
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
I don't think I enjoy Cora Reily nearly as much as I used to and for that I'm sad. She was my introduction into mafia romance and dark romance in general and I adored a very large number of her books last year. Unfortunately, I really can't get into her new books, I don't know what it is but I just never get into the stories anymore...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail