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A review by maddiesreading23
The Emperor by RuNyx
5.0
SPOILERS AHEAD!
"In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn't that how it goes?"
this book was a breath of fresh air. I was not expecting to start the book so far in the past, but I love that we did; I love seeing the foundation of Amara and Dante's relationship. I was kinda shocked that they were in a secret relationship for so long? I mean we knew they still saw each other, since we saw them interact in the first two books, but I never would've guessed from the context of the first two books that they were intimately together that whole time? Very pleasantly surprised!
Their childhood interactions are so soft and sweet. Tristan and Dante being the ones to save Amara my heart couldn't take it - that moment between Tristan and Amara before Dante gets their was heart wrenching. I love Amara and Dante's quiet moments, in his studio together, I love seeing that side of their relationship and their history.
"You're the queen on the board, Amara. You're my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I'll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
Amara Rossi my strong girl! Knowing everything she went through was so painful to read, but I love that she never let the darkness take her. She had so many reasons to just give up, to be a hard, cold person but she never did; her strength makes me so emotional and I love seeing the person she was and the person she grows into in this book.
Also really loved Vinnie's friendship with Amara! I was so surprised by that as well but I love it, and it makes it even sweeter now thinking about Vinnie helping Morana stay safe when she was at the compound. I loved Vinnie a lot more than I expected to in this book!
"It's not the weapon but the one who wields it that holds the power, and you, Dante Maroni are a powerful man."
Once again I was so surprised by all that Dante went through as a child too. His first kill had me tearing up, and everything he's done to protect his brother from their father. When it comes to his loved ones, Dante loves so deeply and it's so beautiful. His love and determination in protecting Amara and doing everything he could to keep her and her mother safe was so sweet, it just made me love him even more.
I was surprised but also not surprised with Nerea being a traitor? She always seemed so nice to Amara that it did take me by surprise that she would have such hatred for her sister, but given their father's influence in her life it also made sense. I was NOT expecting Alpha to be connected to Dante like that though!? RuNyx's world building and the way they link the storylines and character arcs truly is an insane talent.
They were lovers and friends, strangers and acquaintances, all those things, none of those things. they just were.
The Tristan and Morana cameos were so good too, Morana in her 'Nerd Life = Thug Life' shirt going toe-to-toe with Chiara, while Tristan tries to hide his amusement, was my favourite moment of theirs. And there is something so full circle about Tristan being the one to find Morana when she was kidnapped and pick her up and get her to safety, and then him being the one to carry her to the car when she was going into labour. Their friendship is actually so precious!
Crazy that Amara thought she wouldn't mind Dante being her first kiss and now he's her husband and the father of her baby? THAT'S REAL LOVE!
This book was so good, Dante and Amara's story was so beautiful <3
"And if she ever cracks?"
"Then we fill her up with gold."
"In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn't that how it goes?"
this book was a breath of fresh air. I was not expecting to start the book so far in the past, but I love that we did; I love seeing the foundation of Amara and Dante's relationship. I was kinda shocked that they were in a secret relationship for so long? I mean we knew they still saw each other, since we saw them interact in the first two books, but I never would've guessed from the context of the first two books that they were intimately together that whole time? Very pleasantly surprised!
Their childhood interactions are so soft and sweet. Tristan and Dante being the ones to save Amara my heart couldn't take it - that moment between Tristan and Amara before Dante gets their was heart wrenching. I love Amara and Dante's quiet moments, in his studio together, I love seeing that side of their relationship and their history.
"You're the queen on the board, Amara. You're my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I'll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
Amara Rossi my strong girl! Knowing everything she went through was so painful to read, but I love that she never let the darkness take her. She had so many reasons to just give up, to be a hard, cold person but she never did; her strength makes me so emotional and I love seeing the person she was and the person she grows into in this book.
Also really loved Vinnie's friendship with Amara! I was so surprised by that as well but I love it, and it makes it even sweeter now thinking about Vinnie helping Morana stay safe when she was at the compound. I loved Vinnie a lot more than I expected to in this book!
"It's not the weapon but the one who wields it that holds the power, and you, Dante Maroni are a powerful man."
Once again I was so surprised by all that Dante went through as a child too. His first kill had me tearing up, and everything he's done to protect his brother from their father. When it comes to his loved ones, Dante loves so deeply and it's so beautiful. His love and determination in protecting Amara and doing everything he could to keep her and her mother safe was so sweet, it just made me love him even more.
I was surprised but also not surprised with Nerea being a traitor? She always seemed so nice to Amara that it did take me by surprise that she would have such hatred for her sister, but given their father's influence in her life it also made sense. I was NOT expecting Alpha to be connected to Dante like that though!? RuNyx's world building and the way they link the storylines and character arcs truly is an insane talent.
They were lovers and friends, strangers and acquaintances, all those things, none of those things. they just were.
The Tristan and Morana cameos were so good too, Morana in her 'Nerd Life = Thug Life' shirt going toe-to-toe with Chiara, while Tristan tries to hide his amusement, was my favourite moment of theirs. And there is something so full circle about Tristan being the one to find Morana when she was kidnapped and pick her up and get her to safety, and then him being the one to carry her to the car when she was going into labour. Their friendship is actually so precious!
Crazy that Amara thought she wouldn't mind Dante being her first kiss and now he's her husband and the father of her baby? THAT'S REAL LOVE!
This book was so good, Dante and Amara's story was so beautiful <3
"And if she ever cracks?"
"Then we fill her up with gold."