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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-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
WOW! I don't even know what to say! I went through so many emotions throughout this book. It was a rollercoaster. The way that the author reveals things over time makes for a truly compelling story. Exploring the characters and their motivations was fascinating. There was so much tension between Alessio and Natalia. Seeing Alessio gradually take to being a father was so heartwarming. There were several times when I had to close my Kindle and pace around the room. That's how good this book was. I felt immersed in this messed-up mafia universe.
SPICE Level: this book is pretty spicy bordering on smutty. There were several scenes (like 5+) with explicit descriptions. Honestly, this is my only complaint.
SPICE Level: this book is pretty spicy bordering on smutty. There were several scenes (like 5+) with explicit descriptions. Honestly, this is my only complaint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy
emotional
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
medium-paced
Dang, where have I been! AZ really knows how to write a mafia romance. This book was good to the last page. The story was twisty with just the right touch of angst. 5 stars for Alessio and Natalia! Now on to the backlist.
4.5 stars
The first half started out a little slow, I had so many questions and I wasn’t sure of the direction that the plot was going on. But once we got some answers, I was so impressed and I couldn’t finish the book fast enough. Having a mute heroine is something I’ve never read before, but to have her be assertive with her wants and needs was so nice to see. Natalia was a great FMC. Her relationship with Nino was the cutest, they got so close so fast. And Alessio… that man was something else. He was a stickler for rules and so grumpy at the start but slowly started loosening up under Natalia’s influence, and his new connection with Nino. Overall, I really loved this.
The first half started out a little slow, I had so many questions and I wasn’t sure of the direction that the plot was going on. But once we got some answers, I was so impressed and I couldn’t finish the book fast enough. Having a mute heroine is something I’ve never read before, but to have her be assertive with her wants and needs was so nice to see. Natalia was a great FMC. Her relationship with Nino was the cutest, they got so close so fast. And Alessio… that man was something else. He was a stickler for rules and so grumpy at the start but slowly started loosening up under Natalia’s influence, and his new connection with Nino. Overall, I really loved this.
Oh Ms Zavarelli has done it again. I devoured this story. The characters were very well written
Yet another intoxicating page turner from the mafia queen, A. Zavarelli. Kingdom Fall has all the edgy grit, shocking twists, and emotional tension I've come to expect from a Zavarelli story, but it also has a surprisingly about of tenderness - and a whole lot of a swoon. I couldn't put this masterpiece down- consuming from start to finish!
A mafia, nanny-single father romantic suspense from the ever alluring mind of A. Zavarelli?! Uhm YES- gimme! And what an engrossing story it is- one full of suspense and passion, lies and secrets, trauma and love, redemption and forgiveness. Zavarelli's masterful take on the mafia trope combined with a really emotional story and a fantastic suite of characters is really the perfect combination. And it all begins with a the search for a nanny- and spark.
I have never loved an A. Zavarelli heroine as much as I loved Natalia. Wow- what a heroine. She’s overcome so much in her life- fought against so much adversity. Not only has everything she’s loved been taken from her brutally, savagely, and painfully, but she’s also got scars literal and metaphysical that plague her, including a disability that permanently changes her life. We know straight away she has something up her sleeve- there is more to her that we know, but we connect with her so intensely that we are automatically on her team. Whatever her agenda may be, we’re rooting for her. SHe’s that compelling. She’s resilient, brave, but also compassionate, kind, and intensely loving. Asheligh gives her such meaningful substance and layers as a character- she’s incredibly realized, palpably real to me as a character. And I loved the contrasting dynamics we get with her- her vulnerability and her fortitude, her resolved focus and her empathy, her timidness and her courage. So many notes- you can’t help but fall for her completely, as does Alessio.
And while Natalia really shines here, Alessio is also compelling- he’s a bit different than other Zavarelli heroes. Sure, he has the usual cold stoicism and ruthless gusto we love in AZ mafia anti-heroes, but he’s also more openly vulnerable, and though he’s been through quite a bit himself and he carries deep emotional scars, he’s less, well, less bitter. He’s a bit awkward in places, which is quite endearing, but he’s also just more empathetic and curious than I expected him to be. His goodness shines through quite easily- which is needed for us to forgive his mistakes in places, and for us to find him worthy of a heroine we instantly adore.
AZ writes push-pull, complicated character chemistry like no other- and that really sparks in this story. Both characters have secrets, both have agendas, but their magnetic pull towards each other is undeniably engaging. There are times when this book is really tender, quite swoony in places- a bit more light and sweet. Of course, we have plenty of dark elements in the past and the present, but the romantic tenor is more gentle overall, and wow, it’s quite affecting. Part of this is assisted by some real MVP side characters, Nino, the “son” of Aslessio in particular. His presence not only tugs on the heart strings, but it allows us to see some softer notes in all of our characters early on- and gives their character journey more depth.
This book is a bit longer than I’m used to from AZ- likely because it’s a completed story/a complete standalone. Though the end of the book mentions a spin-off featuring two side characters that has be fascinated. The story, thus, feels hard fought- these two dance around each other a while before the secrets come out and before they figure out how to reconcile their passion and emotion with their truths. But the journey is worth it- and the ending is just so sweet. Along the way we have so much suspense, drama, steamy magic, and some really amazing character connections. And a truly unforgettable, and unparalleled, heroine. Another fantastic story from the amazing A. Zavarelli.
A mafia, nanny-single father romantic suspense from the ever alluring mind of A. Zavarelli?! Uhm YES- gimme! And what an engrossing story it is- one full of suspense and passion, lies and secrets, trauma and love, redemption and forgiveness. Zavarelli's masterful take on the mafia trope combined with a really emotional story and a fantastic suite of characters is really the perfect combination. And it all begins with a the search for a nanny- and spark.
I have never loved an A. Zavarelli heroine as much as I loved Natalia. Wow- what a heroine. She’s overcome so much in her life- fought against so much adversity. Not only has everything she’s loved been taken from her brutally, savagely, and painfully, but she’s also got scars literal and metaphysical that plague her, including a disability that permanently changes her life. We know straight away she has something up her sleeve- there is more to her that we know, but we connect with her so intensely that we are automatically on her team. Whatever her agenda may be, we’re rooting for her. SHe’s that compelling. She’s resilient, brave, but also compassionate, kind, and intensely loving. Asheligh gives her such meaningful substance and layers as a character- she’s incredibly realized, palpably real to me as a character. And I loved the contrasting dynamics we get with her- her vulnerability and her fortitude, her resolved focus and her empathy, her timidness and her courage. So many notes- you can’t help but fall for her completely, as does Alessio.
And while Natalia really shines here, Alessio is also compelling- he’s a bit different than other Zavarelli heroes. Sure, he has the usual cold stoicism and ruthless gusto we love in AZ mafia anti-heroes, but he’s also more openly vulnerable, and though he’s been through quite a bit himself and he carries deep emotional scars, he’s less, well, less bitter. He’s a bit awkward in places, which is quite endearing, but he’s also just more empathetic and curious than I expected him to be. His goodness shines through quite easily- which is needed for us to forgive his mistakes in places, and for us to find him worthy of a heroine we instantly adore.
AZ writes push-pull, complicated character chemistry like no other- and that really sparks in this story. Both characters have secrets, both have agendas, but their magnetic pull towards each other is undeniably engaging. There are times when this book is really tender, quite swoony in places- a bit more light and sweet. Of course, we have plenty of dark elements in the past and the present, but the romantic tenor is more gentle overall, and wow, it’s quite affecting. Part of this is assisted by some real MVP side characters, Nino, the “son” of Aslessio in particular. His presence not only tugs on the heart strings, but it allows us to see some softer notes in all of our characters early on- and gives their character journey more depth.
This book is a bit longer than I’m used to from AZ- likely because it’s a completed story/a complete standalone. Though the end of the book mentions a spin-off featuring two side characters that has be fascinated. The story, thus, feels hard fought- these two dance around each other a while before the secrets come out and before they figure out how to reconcile their passion and emotion with their truths. But the journey is worth it- and the ending is just so sweet. Along the way we have so much suspense, drama, steamy magic, and some really amazing character connections. And a truly unforgettable, and unparalleled, heroine. Another fantastic story from the amazing A. Zavarelli.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
2.5* I've really enjoyed Zaverelli's Boston Underworld series so was somewhat disappointed with this. Starts of great but it seemed to lose it's way and direction with a lot of inconsistencies. Given that we're told there are camera's covering every inch of the place she seems to get away with a lot. That just makes the H look incompetent Not a good look for a bad ass. Nor is the fact that he throws up after viewing a gruesome video....but he tortures people as a profession. We see the guts and gore of that close up but he gets queasy at the video?