ladylaurenexplorer's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
What a lot to take in!
Although I did enjoy the overall series as a whole, I do think some of the books needed a little bit more when it came to plot.
I like how we saw characters from different series, especially bloodied hands.
I love some of the fitting punishments for the enemies, especially that last male enemy!
I just felt a little dramatic, and not a lot of developments that was significant to me.
Rafe will never change which I thoroughly I’m OK with when it comes to these types of dark heroes.
But Isa which is a doormat and building her self up to something that would not take, but then she fell back to being a doormat and letting everything happen. It was until the last book that you actually saw her become something more and well-established stabilized!
Although I do think that her sister needed a little bit more punishment I’m glad it ended the way it did.
Although the actual ending reminds me of a different series by Jenna, darling, and how someone was going to go find another person. Which, then leads to a new series or spinoff standalone.
I would recommend reading this book. Please check the trigger warnings because it’s very heavy on the breeding, tampering, noncon, and so much more.
Although I did enjoy the overall series as a whole, I do think some of the books needed a little bit more when it came to plot.
I like how we saw characters from different series, especially bloodied hands.
I love some of the fitting punishments for the enemies, especially that last male enemy!
I just felt a little dramatic, and not a lot of developments that was significant to me.
Rafe will never change which I thoroughly I’m OK with when it comes to these types of dark heroes.
But Isa which is a doormat and building her self up to something that would not take, but then she fell back to being a doormat and letting everything happen. It was until the last book that you actually saw her become something more and well-established stabilized!
Although I do think that her sister needed a little bit more punishment I’m glad it ended the way it did.
Although the actual ending reminds me of a different series by Jenna, darling, and how someone was going to go find another person. Which, then leads to a new series or spinoff standalone.
I would recommend reading this book. Please check the trigger warnings because it’s very heavy on the breeding, tampering, noncon, and so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking, Violence, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Drug use, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Trafficking
elizjmcfarland's review
4.0
This was my first of Adelaide Forrest. I knew this was a dark mafia romance, which is my favorite and I had to read it! Keep in mind, that this is 4.5 books in one book. So this is an extremely long book. I did rank each book individually so I could remember what I liked/disliked and what each book was about.
It took me until the final book to like Rafe and Isa. They were both broken and tortured and ended out coming on top. The entire series Rafe had a violent way to show how he cared/loved Isa. His emotions gave me whiplash and I was NOT here for it.
Isa. I didn't like her until the final book. She had some tragedy alongside her sister. Her sister was wreckless and blamed all the wrongs in her life on Isa and Isa accepted the abuse to make it up to her. Her family seemed loving, but her parents were blind to all the hatred Odina had for Isa. They were such a tight-knit family but they had no idea that her sister was doing all these despicable things. It doesn't make sense to me, but maybe I am looking into it.
My favorite part of the series and I wish there was more was the mafia side of it. It kept me engaged the entire time. It was dark, demented, twisted and OH soo good!
As I mentioned above, this is a long book and there were times when I lost interest. I like a 3 book max in series, and I felt like it could have been condensed. Books 2 and 3 could have been one book, IMO and for this reason is why I am giving them 4/5 stars.
Thank you to Adelaide Forrest for reaching out to review this ARC. I can't wait to read more of your stories.
It took me until the final book to like Rafe and Isa. They were both broken and tortured and ended out coming on top. The entire series Rafe had a violent way to show how he cared/loved Isa. His emotions gave me whiplash and I was NOT here for it.
Isa. I didn't like her until the final book. She had some tragedy alongside her sister. Her sister was wreckless and blamed all the wrongs in her life on Isa and Isa accepted the abuse to make it up to her. Her family seemed loving, but her parents were blind to all the hatred Odina had for Isa. They were such a tight-knit family but they had no idea that her sister was doing all these despicable things. It doesn't make sense to me, but maybe I am looking into it.
My favorite part of the series and I wish there was more was the mafia side of it. It kept me engaged the entire time. It was dark, demented, twisted and OH soo good!
As I mentioned above, this is a long book and there were times when I lost interest. I like a 3 book max in series, and I felt like it could have been condensed. Books 2 and 3 could have been one book, IMO and for this reason is why I am giving them 4/5 stars.
Thank you to Adelaide Forrest for reaching out to review this ARC. I can't wait to read more of your stories.
gretareadsromance's review
4.0
I am a huge fan of mafia romance and when Adelaide Forrest asked if I wanted to give this boxed set a try I went in blind and was blown away!
Rafe - you'll love him and hate him. He does just enough good towards the beginning of their "relationship" to keep you thinking this anti hero is worth it. They are strange but he definitely proves he is true to Isa in every way. I loved that he brought out the true Isa and was very much behind her and not hiding who they were.
Isa - she went through such a transformation over the course of these books. From a very young girl trying to be the best to make up for her wayward twin to blossoming into a woman. While the circumstances that brought her to the island in Ibiza are wild she learned to own who she now is. She grew a backbone and I loved that she didn't back down to Rafe.
This book is a very dark romance so please check all TW/CW before reading if you have them. Thank you to the author for providing me a copy to enjoy!
Rafe - you'll love him and hate him. He does just enough good towards the beginning of their "relationship" to keep you thinking this anti hero is worth it. They are strange but he definitely proves he is true to Isa in every way. I loved that he brought out the true Isa and was very much behind her and not hiding who they were.
Isa - she went through such a transformation over the course of these books. From a very young girl trying to be the best to make up for her wayward twin to blossoming into a woman. While the circumstances that brought her to the island in Ibiza are wild she learned to own who she now is. She grew a backbone and I loved that she didn't back down to Rafe.
This book is a very dark romance so please check all TW/CW before reading if you have them. Thank you to the author for providing me a copy to enjoy!
williebenz_'s review
5.0
Beauty and lies follow Isa and Rafael‘s roller coaster ride of a romance. Rafael first meets Isa and she is 16 and becomes completely obsessed he manipulates his way into her life and carefully orchestrates their first meeting when she’s 18 and attempts for her to fall in love with him in 10 days. But things don’t go as planned and Rafael takes matters into his own hands to keep Isa for himself. Their relationship is bloody, toxic, and passionate. They both go through so much together. This series is packed full of twists and turns with such a great plot
genhuggins's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
cultleader's review
4.0
I enjoyed the book for the first like 75% and the whole miscommunication or the not telling the heroine to protect her thing got real annoying. I struggled to finish the last book in the set because I just didn't like the back and forth.