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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
“You just gave me a third-act speech about feelings so that you could ask me on a date?”
For a while it was looking like this might be my least favourite of the books so far, but it managed to pull back from that edge. I didn't have all of the same nitpicks with this as I have with the others, but I had some. Archer and Mac's love story isn't quite instalove, since we find out they've been hooking up for a few months prior to the start of this. The plot deals with both of them working on a super secret psychopath training programme that Thomas has them recruited into, and a hit that's been taken out on Mac. We find out a lot of things for the first time in this book. And I guess that's part of my problem.
Spoiler
In some ways, it seems like this series has been heavily plotted out in advance, and I enjoy that, because it means we got all that Avi/Felix foreshadowing, and we know that Thomas/Aiden has been happening in the background too. So it's kinda annoying that so many things came out of left field here. Archer isn't actually a drinker/alcoholic; fine. I'm glad for him. It does feel kinda cheap that that was just dropped on us, with no hints whatsoever. And the supposed close relationship that Archer has with Noah, and all the time he's apparently spent with Noah and Adam... I really wish we'd seen some of that in the background in a couple of the books. If we did, it got completely lost in the other things happening. Noah has this huge emotional reaction to the news that Archer has been lying to them, and I at first was left feeling like Archer. Like... and? Why are you so upset? Why should I care? I eventually came around, but I really wish more groundwork had been laid.This isn't instalove, but I have to say again that all these romances read and feel the same? I don't mind, because I don't hate the obsessive and possessive vibes, but some parts of the dynamics between the two guys... I literally felt like I'd read it all before. The sexy scenes felt boring and copy-pasted. But I can't lie: I did love Archer and Mac together. Not the most memorable romance, but they had some great moments, and they're un-normal about each other in the way I like best.
And I do love this fucking weirdo found family. I love seeing the brothers bicker and banter and interact with each other and bond over murder. It's just as gory and violent and over the top as the others, but I've become used to that. Or at least, I know how to brace myself for it. Also, Onley James knows how to make me intrigued with her side characters. I want more of the strip club lesbians! And are Park and Gift getting a book? I hope so. We also got the set up for the last book, which is going in a direction I didn't quite expect. This is the couple I've been anticipating for the entire series, so I'm crossing my fingers that I'll like it.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
child rape, abuse, human trafficking, racism, violence, blood, torture
3.5. I didn’t love Archer and Mac’s relationship - it didn’t feel believable, and there was a lack of development for me that took me out of it. But at this point I’m mostly still reading this series for the Mulvaney family themselves, and I loved that part of it. The plot was intense, but it didn’t really pick up until the last half of the book. The writing was good though, and I enjoyed the dialogue and the scenes with the other Mulvaney brothers and their SO’s. But I’ve been waiting for Aiden’s book since I started reading this series, and the ending of this one leads right to it, which got me excited. I cannot wait for MANIAC.
I wanted drunken, chaotic mess of a pirate Archer and instead I got boring Archer and a boring love interest and they are boring together.
I thought I was going to get crazy antics, probably a Vegas strip club and some scarey casino mobsters but nay nay.
The whole book is a set up for a spin off series and it reads like one.
The only saving grace in pre-ordering the book is that I received the extra story bundle and I enjoyed those.
This series has steadily gotten worse and it makes me very sad as Unhinged was amazing.
I thought I was going to get crazy antics, probably a Vegas strip club and some scarey casino mobsters but nay nay.
The whole book is a set up for a spin off series and it reads like one.
The only saving grace in pre-ordering the book is that I received the extra story bundle and I enjoyed those.
This series has steadily gotten worse and it makes me very sad as Unhinged was amazing.
DNF’d at 40% This story just isn’t interesting to me right now. I don’t usually like stories that start up in the middle of the relationship. Mac and Archer have already been sleeping together for awhile when this story first begins and to me, it feels like it skipped all the good parts.
Maybe I’ll come back and finish it sometime but putting it aside for now.
Maybe I’ll come back and finish it sometime but putting it aside for now.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
A perfect Sunday afternoon binge book!
Archer has been an enigma this entire series and I love that he wasn't at all what he seemed to be and I really loved the way his and Mac's relationship progressed. It was instant but not!
Only one book left in this series and I'm not ready so I'm saving it for another 'I want to binge a book with hot psychotic men' Sunday!
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
I didn’t like this one for the opposite reason than the last one. Most of these books had good plot (crime) and good relationship. I felt like the last one lacked in plot and I felt like this one lacked in relationship. I am the least invested in this couple than the rest of them which made this fall flat for me.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Archer is the alcoholic with a gambling issue. I think this is where I was getting Avi and Archer mixed up. But it's all good.
I won't lie, this book confused me. Who is Mac? And why are Archer and he picking recruits for a private academy for psychopaths? Did I miss something from the last book? I was all confused and ultimately just went with it.
We find out that Mac and Archer have been bumping uglies for a while, but we didn't get the meet-cute. This really didn't help me connect with the characters at all.
I understand Noah being upset with Archer when the lies came to light, but we didn't see them interact, so I was a little confused with this too.
The whole book I felt like I was missing a big piece of the pie.
But I did enjoy the narration. :)
Archer is the alcoholic with a gambling issue. I think this is where I was getting Avi and Archer mixed up. But it's all good.
I won't lie, this book confused me. Who is Mac? And why are Archer and he picking recruits for a private academy for psychopaths? Did I miss something from the last book? I was all confused and ultimately just went with it.
We find out that Mac and Archer have been bumping uglies for a while, but we didn't get the meet-cute. This really didn't help me connect with the characters at all.
I understand Noah being upset with Archer when the lies came to light, but we didn't see them interact, so I was a little confused with this too.
The whole book I felt like I was missing a big piece of the pie.
But I did enjoy the narration. :)