probably_reading_right_now's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first official book in the series and this one takes a huge nose dive for me. I don’t really like time jumps anyway but to see how starkly different the prologue book was compared to this one was jarring as a reader trying to get into the story. Emma seemed really out of character in comparison. She was whiny and annoying and I just couldn’t understand her actions. I’d like this story more if Emma just weren’t in it to be honest. The huge jump in personality in this one where before her mother was this interesting figure in her life she was trying to get away from, to now being a mini version of her mother almost just completely turned me off of her as a character. Her wishy washiness was just so annoying. The relationship between Cain and Emma was also kind of heteronormative, the prologue book also has this issue but it was less glaring because I enjoyed it way more. I’m really happy I read the prologue book first because had I read this one first I don’t know if I would have continued with the series.
mollyan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
reneetc's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun and entertaining story. Are some of the characters unbelievable? Yep. Is the incompetency of the FBI a little scarey? Absolutely. So what, I'm enjoying the ride. This story does however, highlight important life lessons such as family values, loyalty, forgiveness, an eye for an eye, and always pay your taxes.
Some have complained the story jumps to different POVs. I think it's necessary for this to be a well-rounded gangster tale. As far as the characters are concerned, I'm lovin' me some Cain and Merrick. Both have beauty, smarts, strength, and loyalty; what's not to love? I could feel Cain and Emma's chemistry in the flashbacks, so it's obvious they had a strong bond before Emma split. And that scene with Danny and Cain with a belt? ...not for the squeamish and Cain definitely needs her own theme song. I hope Muriel and Shelby get together. Despite where their loyalties lie, they seem like a perfect match.
My only dislike was that while reading, I had a difficult time visualizing what the Casey Clan, Merrick, and Emma looked like. Perhaps it's because they don't fit stereotypical roles like the other characters of whom I had no problem visualizing. Okay, I'm done. 'Nuff said!
I said I wasn't going to do it, but I'm off to read the next books in the series. I'm hooked, what more can I say.
Some have complained the story jumps to different POVs. I think it's necessary for this to be a well-rounded gangster tale. As far as the characters are concerned, I'm lovin' me some Cain and Merrick. Both have beauty, smarts, strength, and loyalty; what's not to love? I could feel Cain and Emma's chemistry in the flashbacks, so it's obvious they had a strong bond before Emma split. And that scene with Danny and Cain with a belt? ...not for the squeamish and Cain definitely needs her own theme song. I hope Muriel and Shelby get together. Despite where their loyalties lie, they seem like a perfect match.
My only dislike was that while reading, I had a difficult time visualizing what the Casey Clan, Merrick, and Emma looked like. Perhaps it's because they don't fit stereotypical roles like the other characters of whom I had no problem visualizing. Okay, I'm done. 'Nuff said!
I said I wasn't going to do it, but I'm off to read the next books in the series. I'm hooked, what more can I say.
brennooth's review against another edition
5.0
I had so many feelings reading this book. Granted, I read the newest addition first, so finding out that they hated each others guts in this one was as painful as it could get. It was one emotional roller coaster that had me flying through the chapters and unable to put the book down for more than an hour. I'm madly in love with Cain and Emma. The entire Casey family (the good ones) are awesome. Merrick is amazing... oh and little Hannah and Hayden. I love this family. I was especially sad to realize that Therese, Billy and Marie died right after I've grown to love them in the book I first read...
stefhyena's review against another edition
1.0
A clear case for the argument that queer is not always good. I feel like going on a side rant about the depictions of lesbian relationships as butch/femme binaries and the invisibility of lesbians like me in most of these books in general. But coming back to the "butch" character with the odd name that is almost a given of these books, I found her one of the most unlikeable protagonists I have ever met.
She is controlling to the point of emotional abuse of her partner (even though she meets her every need (apart for the need for choice/agency) and acts tenderly. She seems to have no vulnerabilities, her cocky demeanour seems to hide an even cockier heart.
The other protagonist (or just love interest considering how little agency she has) is portrayed as being a "bitch" and/or having made a mistake for having decided that she could get over a traumatic sexual assault best by exercising some choice and being consulted not by passively/submissively letting her more dominant partner handle the situation. In general she is passive though, being a pawn of her wife (she gets to be "Mrs" Casey (vomit), her mother and even her supposed to be likeable father.
Cain objectifies all other women leading me to ask what is even queer about this book apart from Cain not technically having a penis? The story moves forward and back clumsily to flashbacks to the idealised time when Cain and Emma met.
As a feminist lesbian. As someone who thinks all women can and ought to exercise agency this book made me sick. Romance novels are meant to be predictable...however they are also meant to be enjoyable. Cain seems as abusive as a leading man in a traditional heteropatriarchal romance. Moving on...
She is controlling to the point of emotional abuse of her partner (even though she meets her every need (apart for the need for choice/agency) and acts tenderly. She seems to have no vulnerabilities, her cocky demeanour seems to hide an even cockier heart.
The other protagonist (or just love interest considering how little agency she has) is portrayed as being a "bitch" and/or having made a mistake for having decided that she could get over a traumatic sexual assault best by exercising some choice and being consulted not by passively/submissively letting her more dominant partner handle the situation. In general she is passive though, being a pawn of her wife (she gets to be "Mrs" Casey (vomit), her mother and even her supposed to be likeable father.
Cain objectifies all other women leading me to ask what is even queer about this book apart from Cain not technically having a penis? The story moves forward and back clumsily to flashbacks to the idealised time when Cain and Emma met.
As a feminist lesbian. As someone who thinks all women can and ought to exercise agency this book made me sick. Romance novels are meant to be predictable...however they are also meant to be enjoyable. Cain seems as abusive as a leading man in a traditional heteropatriarchal romance. Moving on...
corrie's review
4.0
While reading The Devil Inside I often wondered how can any couple bounce back from that much pain, betrayal and mutual inflicted suffering? Derby Cain Casey and Emma Verde sure seem to have all of that stuff going on between them in spades. Then add to that the son Emma left behind when she walked out on Cain 4 years ago. Oh boy, major drama-rama with a nice big helping of angst.
Ali Vali paints a very intruiging picture of the machinations inside the various New Orleans crime families, the Irish Casey clan in particular. I like her broody, honorable, tough as nails, butch character of Cain Casey. Like all characters in the book she is larger than life (sometimes a bit too large, but she is growing on me).
Emma Verde (or Mrs. Casey) is a tougher nut to crack. I could not completely understand her character and her motivations to walk out on her family. To leave the love-of-your-life and your son to go back to cow country Wisconsin and your bible thumping condescending bitch of a mother just on an assumption and hearsay is already a stretch. But then to be a Judas and hand said love-of-your-life over to a man hell bend on destroying the whole Casey legacy out of personal spite is spectacularly devastating. Yeah, the woman has some flaws to overcome and hopefully grow a backbone towards the end of the story (and in the books to come).
Their son Hayden is the only character that didn’t gel with me. He is 11-going-on-45. He was waaaay to mature for his age in both body and mind. That was just creepy and it would have suited better had the author made him a mature for his age 17-year-old.
I am looking forward to dive into book two, it’s fun. I like to see how Emma and Cain learn to trust each other again. How much squirming Emma has to do before she is allowed back into the marital bed. Like I said, it’s a bit over the top, a tad heavy on the schmalz, but entertaining nevertheless.
f/f explicit
Themes: no way Hayden behaves like an eleven-year-old boy, that was just creepy and it kept me unsettled throughout the whole story, are all the female Caseys lesbians?, there is a little surprise waiting for Cain back at the farm and it ain’t the feds, flashbacks galore, shades of Xena in her War Lord days, you know... 10 winters ago, so yeah uber Xena and Gabby.
3.8 stars
Ali Vali paints a very intruiging picture of the machinations inside the various New Orleans crime families, the Irish Casey clan in particular. I like her broody, honorable, tough as nails, butch character of Cain Casey. Like all characters in the book she is larger than life (sometimes a bit too large, but she is growing on me).
Emma Verde (or Mrs. Casey) is a tougher nut to crack. I could not completely understand her character and her motivations to walk out on her family. To leave the love-of-your-life and your son to go back to cow country Wisconsin and your bible thumping condescending bitch of a mother just on an assumption and hearsay is already a stretch. But then to be a Judas and hand said love-of-your-life over to a man hell bend on destroying the whole Casey legacy out of personal spite is spectacularly devastating. Yeah, the woman has some flaws to overcome and hopefully grow a backbone towards the end of the story (and in the books to come).
Their son Hayden is the only character that didn’t gel with me. He is 11-going-on-45. He was waaaay to mature for his age in both body and mind. That was just creepy and it would have suited better had the author made him a mature for his age 17-year-old.
I am looking forward to dive into book two, it’s fun. I like to see how Emma and Cain learn to trust each other again. How much squirming Emma has to do before she is allowed back into the marital bed. Like I said, it’s a bit over the top, a tad heavy on the schmalz, but entertaining nevertheless.
f/f explicit
Themes: no way Hayden behaves like an eleven-year-old boy, that was just creepy and it kept me unsettled throughout the whole story, are all the female Caseys lesbians?, there is a little surprise waiting for Cain back at the farm and it ain’t the feds, flashbacks galore, shades of Xena in her War Lord days, you know... 10 winters ago, so yeah uber Xena and Gabby.
3.8 stars
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