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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3đś
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5*
I know many people weren't Callie fans (understandably so) after reading Atlas, but his character clearly had a lot more story to tell, and I'm glad we got to hear it! These characters both carried a LOT of baggage, and the personal growth they went through was at least as big of a piece of this story as the romance or all of the Mike Bravo antics. That is honestly the reason for a slightly lower rating on this one from me - I feel like the action and the person "stuff" overpowered the romance. I would have liked to see more of the emotional development between Callie and Zeus (beyond the hero dynamic). Still a quick, easy, enjoyable read though!
Things to expect from this book:
I know many people weren't Callie fans (understandably so) after reading Atlas, but his character clearly had a lot more story to tell, and I'm glad we got to hear it! These characters both carried a LOT of baggage, and the personal growth they went through was at least as big of a piece of this story as the romance or all of the Mike Bravo antics. That is honestly the reason for a slightly lower rating on this one from me - I feel like the action and the person "stuff" overpowered the romance. I would have liked to see more of the emotional development between Callie and Zeus (beyond the hero dynamic). Still a quick, easy, enjoyable read though!
Things to expect from this book:
I enjoy how over the top these books are, in the best way. I love a good heist-y romantic suspense Jason Bourne-lite high heat gay romance. I enjoy the no-stakes KU romances, don't get me wrong. But these are pure entertainment.
Always make me want to go back and read the previous ones though, and I don't have time for that.
Always make me want to go back and read the previous ones though, and I don't have time for that.
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Oof, this wasnât for me. I will always be the first to say that I donât like the manwhore trope, but books with that trope can be good too, if itâs done well. To me, this one wasnât. It pretty much missed the whole way through. To be fair to the book and author I probably shouldâve DNFâd earlier and moved on, but I kept hoping it would change.
It boils down to the fact that I donât for a second buy these two together, and I wish Callie found someone else. Zeus is a manwhore, and we know this because it has been repeated over and over again through four books. Iâm pretty sure boning anything with a pulse (not my words) is his only personality trait. Usually, the reformed manwhore has some reasoning for avoiding commitment like the plague, but it was really thin in this one, and he didnât feel âreformedâ at all.
All of that is just my personal opinion of course and I expect most people will love this book. The action was entertaining and it was fun to see them solve the case, and I especially loved seeing more of Iris and Saint as theyâre my favorite couple from the series. Where the book really loses me however, and made me uncomfortable, is how much it feels like Zeus is using and taking advantage of Callie.
Callie is *so* freaking vulnerable early on, and Zeus is well aware. Callie would do anything for someone to show him just a scrap of affection or care, and he desperately wants someone to love him and be there for him. Zeus has no intention of being that person, but he still sleeps with Callie. At one point Zeus even says heâs so turned on that he would even bone one of his teammates. Any hole would do, Callie just happened to be the one who turned him on.
By the epilogue, Callie is keeping a secret, and one of Zeusâ and the rest of the teamâs first thoughts is that Callie might be cheating. I canât believe in a happy ever after when all they went through still ends in no trust between them. I know people are allowed to have issues they need to work through, but damn.
If you loved this book and the characters, please just ignore my ramblings. Sometimes a book just doesnât work for me, and this was one of them.
âŹď¸ Blanket spoiler warning âŹď¸
â ď¸ Tropes & tags â ď¸
Private military group
Manwhore
Past trauma
Attention and touch starved MC
Found family
Romantic suspense
â ď¸ Content warning â ď¸
MC victim of domestic abuse (past)
Suicidal ideation/thoughts
Sex trafficking
MC offered drugs (doesnât take any)
MCs forced by circumstances to have sex
Gun violence
Mentions of suicide by family member (past, minor details)
Brief mention of being disowned because of sexuality (past)
Explicit sexual content
Breath play/collaring
SC recounting death of best friend (past, minor details)
Torture of a side character (minor details)
Injured MC
Graphic violence
Severely injured MC
Gunshot wound
Mentions of surgery and induced coma
â ď¸Book safety â ď¸
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Callie kisses one of Zeusâ teammates on a rescue mission. Itâs about survival and thereâs no emotion behind it.
Breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main charactersâ age: 29/30 and not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 317
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?igsh=MWZ3azhkdDc2Y2ludg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Oof, this wasnât for me. I will always be the first to say that I donât like the manwhore trope, but books with that trope can be good too, if itâs done well. To me, this one wasnât. It pretty much missed the whole way through. To be fair to the book and author I probably shouldâve DNFâd earlier and moved on, but I kept hoping it would change.
It boils down to the fact that I donât for a second buy these two together, and I wish Callie found someone else. Zeus is a manwhore, and we know this because it has been repeated over and over again through four books. Iâm pretty sure boning anything with a pulse (not my words) is his only personality trait. Usually, the reformed manwhore has some reasoning for avoiding commitment like the plague, but it was really thin in this one, and he didnât feel âreformedâ at all.
All of that is just my personal opinion of course and I expect most people will love this book. The action was entertaining and it was fun to see them solve the case, and I especially loved seeing more of Iris and Saint as theyâre my favorite couple from the series. Where the book really loses me however, and made me uncomfortable, is how much it feels like Zeus is using and taking advantage of Callie.
Callie is *so* freaking vulnerable early on, and Zeus is well aware. Callie would do anything for someone to show him just a scrap of affection or care, and he desperately wants someone to love him and be there for him. Zeus has no intention of being that person, but he still sleeps with Callie. At one point Zeus even says heâs so turned on that he would even bone one of his teammates. Any hole would do, Callie just happened to be the one who turned him on.
By the epilogue, Callie is keeping a secret, and one of Zeusâ and the rest of the teamâs first thoughts is that Callie might be cheating. I canât believe in a happy ever after when all they went through still ends in no trust between them. I know people are allowed to have issues they need to work through, but damn.
If you loved this book and the characters, please just ignore my ramblings. Sometimes a book just doesnât work for me, and this was one of them.
âŹď¸ Blanket spoiler warning âŹď¸
â ď¸ Tropes & tags â ď¸
Private military group
Manwhore
Past trauma
Attention and touch starved MC
Found family
Romantic suspense
â ď¸ Content warning â ď¸
MC victim of domestic abuse (past)
Suicidal ideation/thoughts
Sex trafficking
MC offered drugs (doesnât take any)
MCs forced by circumstances to have sex
Gun violence
Mentions of suicide by family member (past, minor details)
Brief mention of being disowned because of sexuality (past)
Explicit sexual content
Breath play/collaring
SC recounting death of best friend (past, minor details)
Torture of a side character (minor details)
Injured MC
Graphic violence
Severely injured MC
Gunshot wound
Mentions of surgery and induced coma
â ď¸Book safety â ď¸
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Callie kisses one of Zeusâ teammates on a rescue mission. Itâs about survival and thereâs no emotion behind it.
Breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main charactersâ age: 29/30 and not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 317
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?igsh=MWZ3azhkdDc2Y2ludg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
heartfelt and fun
I love the last line of this book. Well put.
This book was everything I was wanting. Fun, silly, plenty of action, and a bit of spice.
I love the last line of this book. Well put.
This book was everything I was wanting. Fun, silly, plenty of action, and a bit of spice.
Rating: 4.25/5 Stars
Zeus is the fourth book in Eden Finley's Mike Bravo Ops series. It's a MM romance with elements of action and suspense. It's told from a first person dual point of view and has a guaranteed happily ever after. You can expect hurt/comfort, a redemption arc, former military members, "enemies" to lovers, and a main character on the run. Please note that this book does deal with some sensitive topics, including recovery from domestic violence, sex trafficking, torture, and mentions of suicide and suicide ideation. Mike Bravo's body count also increases significantly. Always take care of yourself while reading!
Overall, I love this series! I'm a huge fan of police/military procedurals (think Jack Reacher), so combined with queer romance? Sign me up! That being said, [b:Atlas|122753551|Atlas (Mike Bravo Ops, #3)|Eden Finley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683716531l/122753551._SY75_.jpg|144017056] slightly missed the mark for me so I was excited for Zeus! And overall, I wasn't disappointed. Let me tell you why.
The found family vibes in this book continue to be immaculate. I love this group of badass, emotionally damaged, and loveable men and women so much. Each book expands on this and it makes me so happy. Iris and Saint ([b:Iris|59238149|Iris (Mike Bravo Ops, #1)|Eden Finley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639656909l/59238149._SY75_.jpg|93390751]) will always be number one for me, and I loved seeing them together here. Zeus isn't really anything like what we've seen from him in the previous three books. He plays the part of the playboy that doesn't do repeats, but we learn the real reason why he has that wall up around his heart. Him and Callie together were just incredible. A perfect match. Both their backstories really tugged on my heart strings, and I was rooting for them from the beginning. Fans of the series might have some mixed feelings about Callie after his actions in Atlas, however, I think his redemption arc in this story was more than well-earned. One of the things I've appreciated about this series (other than the mental health representation which continues to be great) is that the couples don't follow any sort of preconceived happily ever afters (think of the formulaic moving in together, getting engaged, getting married, etc.). I like that each couple moves at a pace that suits them, and does what's best for them. I liked that about Zeus and Callie! We got to see them growing together as a couple while Zeus enters a new phase in his life, and Callie works on figuring out his purpose in life. And of course, the steam in this book was incredible. I thought it was handled well, particularly considering Callie's trauma.
There are a few elements in this book that I think might stand out to readers, but it will come down to personal preference. Personally, these things didn't take away too much of the story for me.
This has become my second favourite book in the series! I'm excited to see where things will go next, especially with the tension between Decaf and Haz we witnessed. Love this series and this incredible found family!
Zeus is the fourth book in Eden Finley's Mike Bravo Ops series. It's a MM romance with elements of action and suspense. It's told from a first person dual point of view and has a guaranteed happily ever after. You can expect hurt/comfort, a redemption arc, former military members, "enemies" to lovers, and a main character on the run. Please note that this book does deal with some sensitive topics, including recovery from domestic violence, sex trafficking, torture, and mentions of suicide and suicide ideation. Mike Bravo's body count also increases significantly. Always take care of yourself while reading!
I should probably see a shrink about that, but meh. Why pay for therapy when C4, guns, and a good old game of cat and mouse can be as cathartic?
Overall, I love this series! I'm a huge fan of police/military procedurals (think Jack Reacher), so combined with queer romance? Sign me up! That being said, [b:Atlas|122753551|Atlas (Mike Bravo Ops, #3)|Eden Finley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683716531l/122753551._SY75_.jpg|144017056] slightly missed the mark for me so I was excited for Zeus! And overall, I wasn't disappointed. Let me tell you why.
The found family vibes in this book continue to be immaculate. I love this group of badass, emotionally damaged, and loveable men and women so much. Each book expands on this and it makes me so happy. Iris and Saint ([b:Iris|59238149|Iris (Mike Bravo Ops, #1)|Eden Finley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639656909l/59238149._SY75_.jpg|93390751]) will always be number one for me, and I loved seeing them together here. Zeus isn't really anything like what we've seen from him in the previous three books. He plays the part of the playboy that doesn't do repeats, but we learn the real reason why he has that wall up around his heart. Him and Callie together were just incredible. A perfect match. Both their backstories really tugged on my heart strings, and I was rooting for them from the beginning. Fans of the series might have some mixed feelings about Callie after his actions in Atlas, however, I think his redemption arc in this story was more than well-earned. One of the things I've appreciated about this series (other than the mental health representation which continues to be great) is that the couples don't follow any sort of preconceived happily ever afters (think of the formulaic moving in together, getting engaged, getting married, etc.). I like that each couple moves at a pace that suits them, and does what's best for them. I liked that about Zeus and Callie! We got to see them growing together as a couple while Zeus enters a new phase in his life, and Callie works on figuring out his purpose in life. And of course, the steam in this book was incredible. I thought it was handled well, particularly considering Callie's trauma.
There are a few elements in this book that I think might stand out to readers, but it will come down to personal preference. Personally, these things didn't take away too much of the story for me.
Spoiler
This book could've been a few chapters longer. Mostly because it would've been nice to see Zeus really settle into the parental role for his niece and nephew. That storyline could be viewed as a bit rushed. I also think the "conflict" (if you can call it that) in the epilogue might've been a bit of a step backwards for Zeus and Callie. I did like that Zeus's friends rallied around him, but there probably should've been a bit more trust. I think that could've been reframed as a different type of conflict. Again, these were just small sticking points for me.This has become my second favourite book in the series! I'm excited to see where things will go next, especially with the tension between Decaf and Haz we witnessed. Love this series and this incredible found family!
I canât do that to him.
He will always come before me.
Thatâs my rule for him. Because he still needs to know that heâs worth every sensation, every feeling that he gives me.
Zeus by Eden Finley
â¤ď¸ Redemption arc
â¤ď¸ Reformed Playboy
â¤ď¸ Hurt/Comfort
â¤ď¸ Enemies to Lovers
â¤ď¸ Found Family
Overall: âââ.5
Spice:
â¤ď¸ Redemption arc
â¤ď¸ Reformed Playboy
â¤ď¸ Hurt/Comfort
â¤ď¸ Enemies to Lovers
â¤ď¸ Found Family
Overall: âââ.5
Spice: