A review by bobsvoid
Children of Ambition by J.J. McAvoy

4.0

"Every last person we kill is for family. If we don't kill them, they kill us. It is the way of the world. It is self-defense."

I'm not going to lie, I'm slightly disappointed. The great Donatella has been reduced to this book. Children of Vice ended in a goddamn bang. I was ready to throw my book and smash it because that cliffhanger was nuts. It ended with Donatella and all I thought was that I hated her and at the same time she was baddass.

I gave this four stars instead of three because it had elements that were amazing. There's going to be a spinoff series about this. I'm hoping that we'll see more of Donatella because she deserved better. She was mean, but she didn't show she was truly the daughter of mafia royalty.

"It's a tragedy really. Being as handsome as I am yet surrounded by women who prefer power instead."

"Power instead?" she replied. "You speak as if you are better than having power. What can you do that my gaining power can't?"

"I can keep you warm at night?"

"I'm rich. I can afford a blanket made with the fur of polar bears to keep me warm."

I want to give this a better review, but I'm not sure what to say.

Gabriel was secretive. He has a plan and that included getting Dona. Unfortunately, he's quite aware that it isn't going to be easy. He's prepared to work for it because he needs her to get what he wants. He's not ruthless, but he is determined.

Donatella is the only daughter of Bloody Mel and Liam, The Mad-Hatter. She's hungry for power, but realized she's getting lower on the totem pole as the days go on. She's not capable of killing her family, but she needs more out of life than being Ethan Callahan's sister.

What saved this book is the goddamn ending. I am thoroughly pissed at J.J. McAvoy the last dialogue is what got me. I. Am. Furious. Reading Ruthless People I thought it was going to end in a HEA, but it was a mafia HEA which was unexpected. Now McAvoy takes the trust I put into her, again, and takes someone away from me. I'm about to consume Children of Redemption because I'm angry and invested in these batshit crazy people.

Many people like to believe they are the master of their own fates, that nothing controls them. But in reality, fear and need to survive ruled over everything in their lives.