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darkclouds's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Wasted potential really.
Miko's character was much more compulsive and for the most part, I could bear the leads for this story. What Sophie Lark couldn't sell me on was the immediate empathy between them two following ONE dinner and a dance. We went from Nessa being frightened, to a forced dinner playing dress up and dancing like Beauty and the Beast (which this story tried so hard to reimagine) to suddenly placing niceties and an odd shared compassion for one another.
It did not flow. At all.
We knew the Stockholm Syndrome vibes was already toeing the line but there was barely any development for them to have reached an understanding after 2/3 interactions. Also Nessa being SO SMART that she could speak Polish that fluent after reading translated books of her favourite children books? Being receptive when it comes to learning choreography in dance is NOT the same as adeptly learning a whole new language. Especially one so difficult.
A whole lot was happening and yet nothing at all. Because it's just narrated to us without actually showing us what's happening. So the whole book went on Nessa being pampered. Miko stalking her on CCTV. Lot of food and scenes with bonding with the Polish speaking maid whom Nessa easily understood. Intelligence you guys. Remember?
We went from lowkey slow burn to instalove in moments I don't even know how that was possible.
It was a messy wrap up but it was a degree better than the first story that's for sure.
Miko's character was much more compulsive and for the most part, I could bear the leads for this story. What Sophie Lark couldn't sell me on was the immediate empathy between them two following ONE dinner and a dance. We went from Nessa being frightened, to a forced dinner playing dress up and dancing like Beauty and the Beast (which this story tried so hard to reimagine) to suddenly placing niceties and an odd shared compassion for one another.
It did not flow. At all.
We knew the Stockholm Syndrome vibes was already toeing the line but there was barely any development for them to have reached an understanding after 2/3 interactions. Also Nessa being SO SMART that she could speak Polish that fluent after reading translated books of her favourite children books? Being receptive when it comes to learning choreography in dance is NOT the same as adeptly learning a whole new language. Especially one so difficult.
A whole lot was happening and yet nothing at all. Because it's just narrated to us without actually showing us what's happening. So the whole book went on Nessa being pampered. Miko stalking her on CCTV. Lot of food and scenes with bonding with the Polish speaking maid whom Nessa easily understood. Intelligence you guys. Remember?
We went from lowkey slow burn to instalove in moments I don't even know how that was possible.
It was a messy wrap up but it was a degree better than the first story that's for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
__romancereader__'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book i think this one is my favorite so far in the series so Stolen heir is my number 1 and Brutal prince is my number 2 so far i cannot wait to read the rest of these books i loved the beauty in the beast things that were happening in this book i don't really know if that makes sense i hope it does i did also really love that Mikolaj was her first ifykyk and her last ofc these books are very good i read them fast there good story's i love the couples in these books so far i loved how even trying to hate Nessa in the beginning Miko still wouldn’t let none of his men touch her or even think about hurting her i love these crazy things that happen at the end but go by fast it gives me enough time to enjoy the ending without my anxiety kicking in this book was so good i love how in these books so far also you get to meet the next book’s character in it overall i lived this book the most and i rated it obviously five stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🥰🥰🥰🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Not all content warnings are about the main characters some are and some are about the characters you meet/hear in the book 🫶🏼🫶🏼🥰🥰Enjoyhaleyash02's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Cursing, Blood, Suicide, Kidnapping, Gore, Eating disorder, Stalking, Murder, and Grief
abladanyi's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, and Suicide
gracerusso's review against another edition
dark
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
kaitlynn_l2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Suicide, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
phoeberuth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
A mafia retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
What I love about Sophie's books is the closeness of the families. There's a place for abandoned orphans but it is really nice to read stories where the family connections are so strong. Nessa is the baby of the Griffin family and has been kept out of all the dirty dealings of the family business. She's a ballet dancer with few close friends and little street smarts which is aptly captured by Miko:
What I love about Sophie's books is the closeness of the families. There's a place for abandoned orphans but it is really nice to read stories where the family connections are so strong. Nessa is the baby of the Griffin family and has been kept out of all the dirty dealings of the family business. She's a ballet dancer with few close friends and little street smarts which is aptly captured by Miko:
“They should have raised a wolf, not a little lamb. It almost seems cruel.”
She is loved by both the Griffins and the Gallos and is therefore the perfect victim for Miko who wants to punish both families.
Miko is a very gruff, unfeeling man at the beginning of the book who joins the Polish mafia as a teenager following tragedy. He is viewed as a son by Zajac, the head of the Polish mafia in Chicago, who was killed by the Gallos and Griffins in Brutal Prince. In Stolen Heir, Miko is out for revenge for his adoptive-father's murder, enter Nessa. Miko kidnaps Nessa and through their forced proximity they develop an attraction to one another and feelings grow in spite of themselves.
I love a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and this was a much slower burn than Brutal Prince but I still wouldn't call it a slow burn. I loved watching Nessa come into herself and stand on her own two feet and in contrast watch Miko soften and switch sides to join our main families.
Miko is a very gruff, unfeeling man at the beginning of the book who joins the Polish mafia as a teenager following tragedy. He is viewed as a son by Zajac, the head of the Polish mafia in Chicago, who was killed by the Gallos and Griffins in Brutal Prince. In Stolen Heir, Miko is out for revenge for his adoptive-father's murder, enter Nessa. Miko kidnaps Nessa and through their forced proximity they develop an attraction to one another and feelings grow in spite of themselves.
I love a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and this was a much slower burn than Brutal Prince but I still wouldn't call it a slow burn. I loved watching Nessa come into herself and stand on her own two feet and in contrast watch Miko soften and switch sides to join our main families.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Suicide
sdupont's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.25
I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did when I first started reading but this story grew on me as I kept reading. Nessa was so sweet and I loved that she was a dancer. Miko grew on me as the story progressed. I surprisingly found myself rooting for them. I would recommend this book and am excited to see what happens next in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
piabartolini's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
Miko and Nessa were great together. A pretty on the nose Beauty and the Beast tale, with some Hades and Persephone thrown in and a little bit of forbidden romance. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Cal and Aida’s story, which surprised me. But their banter was top notch, whereas the dynamic with Miko was more sober and serious.
This was a light read in terms of themes, too. The most emotionally challenging component was the very first chapter and learning what happened to Miko’s sister, which set him on the mafia path.
Overall a very enjoyable read. No flaws except one typo in there that I saw, the storytelling and romance were lovely and the plot was just tense enough to keep it interesting without real stomach churning drama and high stakes.
This was a light read in terms of themes, too. The most emotionally challenging component was the very first chapter and learning what happened to Miko’s sister, which set him on the mafia path.
Overall a very enjoyable read. No flaws except one typo in there that I saw, the storytelling and romance were lovely and the plot was just tense enough to keep it interesting without real stomach churning drama and high stakes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Sexual assault