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anju_reads's review against another edition
4.0
A dark romance with an anti hero and good plot. This is a well written mafia romance! If you like mafia books where the MMC falls for the captive FMC and the I’m a monster to everyone but you trope this is for you. FYI Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger.
katiekamp24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
katiereadingcorner's review
5.0
I could not believe that this was Ria Wilde’s debut novel, what a book! Ria has done an amazing job with her characterisation and world building. I adored Wren’s feisty side and Lex’s alpha possessiveness. The story flowed really well and each time I ended a chapter I wanted to not stop reading. This chapter hooks were brilliant.
The story is told in Wren’s and Lex’s perspective which I always love. Lex wants revenge on the Valentine family after they killed his mother, Lex finds that Wren is Marcus Valentine’s daughter and kidnaps her, however he didn’t count on her having a little bit of fight in her, and he didn’t expect to like it. Can he go ahead with the revenge now that he has Wren?
This is a duet and I cannot wait to read book 2 and find out what happens next. Congratulations Ria Wilde on an excellent debut novel.
misskitty14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's hard to separate my love for Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers from how I judge the novels they narrate.
This is my first Mafia romance and I'm sort of meh about the trope. I did like the characters, especially Wren. I found her apprehension and resistance authentic; she logically understands why this is a bad idea, but also acknowledges that physically she can't help herself. Like most folks, I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and I love that this book is more enemies-as-lovers; we still have yet to fully move past their hatred and aggression toward one another.
At times, the writing was too much telling and not enough showing. I understand that when you're doing POV that's bound to happen, but I was annoyed by how often Lex narrated his moral compass and power as head of the Silver crime empire.
One thing I did not like at all was how rapey their first sexual encounter felt. When we're in her head, we are aware that she wants this physically, but that morally she knows it is wrong, but that's also why she wants it. Then when we have his perspective afterward, she cries and it feels more like sexual coercion. I just think that in our current climate and discussions regarding sexual assault and rape, this scene fuels the lie that women claim rape simply because they regret a sexual encounter.
I am excited to continue with the next book. I think Wilde did a great job of slowly revealing the larger mystery to us and, like Lex, I'm wondering what Daddy Valentine wants with Wren and how she fits into his big plans.
This is my first Mafia romance and I'm sort of meh about the trope. I did like the characters, especially Wren. I found her apprehension and resistance authentic; she logically understands why this is a bad idea, but also acknowledges that physically she can't help herself. Like most folks, I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and I love that this book is more enemies-as-lovers; we still have yet to fully move past their hatred and aggression toward one another.
At times, the writing was too much telling and not enough showing. I understand that when you're doing POV that's bound to happen, but I was annoyed by how often Lex narrated his moral compass and power as head of the Silver crime empire.
One thing I did not like at all was how rapey their first sexual encounter felt. When we're in her head, we are aware that she wants this physically, but that morally she knows it is wrong, but that's also why she wants it. Then when we have his perspective afterward, she cries and it feels more like sexual coercion. I just think that in our current climate and discussions regarding sexual assault and rape, this scene fuels the lie that women claim rape simply because they regret a sexual encounter.
I am excited to continue with the next book. I think Wilde did a great job of slowly revealing the larger mystery to us and, like Lex, I'm wondering what Daddy Valentine wants with Wren and how she fits into his big plans.
piekny_burza's review
5.0
Beautifully twisted love story
This book has me in a chokehold. Absolutely not okay with that cliffhanger - but I know, I just know that he is going to let the world burn to get his little bird back.
I love a strong FMC and she is definitely that. Feisty and capable of much more than she looks. I love when they underestimated her abilities. Her and the MMC have this violent toxic fire chemistry that I love.
If you like mafia romance and dark romance - you should give this book a try!
This book has me in a chokehold. Absolutely not okay with that cliffhanger - but I know, I just know that he is going to let the world burn to get his little bird back.
I love a strong FMC and she is definitely that. Feisty and capable of much more than she looks. I love when they underestimated her abilities. Her and the MMC have this violent toxic fire chemistry that I love.
If you like mafia romance and dark romance - you should give this book a try!
crixcheese's review
4.0
I don't usually leave reviews but, I felt like I should on this one.
Alexander 'Lex' Silver is a man driven by revenge, and Wren 'Little bird' Valentine just happens to be the unfortunate and very unwilling recipient of Lex's wrath. Enter undeniable and irresistible attraction, push and pull relationship and knife play.
The novel was well written, the pace could have been slightly faster, but it was still very much enjoyable to read. I believe the reasons this read didn't make 5 stars for me would have been for two reasons, one minor, one major.
1) Mini problem first: Her best friend fell off the face of the earth after Wren got kidnapped. She was never mentioned, and Wren didn't spare her a thought. It's sensible to only think of yourself and your safety when you're in that sort of situation, but she never really considered who would have been missing her and looking for her.
2) If Wren was so badass, so well-trained, so sure of her skills...why...why was she the damsel they all had to protect? I get that she was never in those sort of situations where she had to use her skills, but after they came to the conclusion that she wasn't going to run away and/or try to kill them, they could have given her something of her own to protect herself, in addition to all the manpower. It was just sad that her badassness just got reduced to being a mouthy spitfire.
Nevertheless, I had been excited to read the novel after seeing the author posting book reels on Instagram, and she didn't disappoint. Little Bird delivered on exactly what was promised: a dark enemies to lovers romance.
Alexander 'Lex' Silver is a man driven by revenge, and Wren 'Little bird' Valentine just happens to be the unfortunate and very unwilling recipient of Lex's wrath. Enter undeniable and irresistible attraction, push and pull relationship and knife play.
The novel was well written, the pace could have been slightly faster, but it was still very much enjoyable to read. I believe the reasons this read didn't make 5 stars for me would have been for two reasons, one minor, one major.
1) Mini problem first: Her best friend fell off the face of the earth after Wren got kidnapped. She was never mentioned, and Wren didn't spare her a thought. It's sensible to only think of yourself and your safety when you're in that sort of situation, but she never really considered who would have been missing her and looking for her.
2) If Wren was so badass, so well-trained, so sure of her skills...why...why was she the damsel they all had to protect? I get that she was never in those sort of situations where she had to use her skills, but after they came to the conclusion that she wasn't going to run away and/or try to kill them, they could have given her something of her own to protect herself, in addition to all the manpower. It was just sad that her badassness just got reduced to being a mouthy spitfire.
Nevertheless, I had been excited to read the novel after seeing the author posting book reels on Instagram, and she didn't disappoint. Little Bird delivered on exactly what was promised: a dark enemies to lovers romance.
witchy_book_babe's review
4.0
This book was pure fun, even though I did have a few small complaints here and there. But, for this being one of Ria's earlier works, I am still impressed at what was executed! I am a big fan of cliffhangers and I felt that the one at the end of Little Bird (Twisted City #1) left enough want, that once I decide to pick up the second half of this Duet, I feel that I will have that satisfactory conclusion to this story.
t5678's review
4.25
I loved the idea of this book and having a FMC that can hold her own. I really liked the FMC and how she navigated her way through a world she wasn’t familiar with. I also was fond of the MMC. Seeing a strong character and the internal struggles with his new role was really fun to read. One thing I struggled with in this story, was there really wasn’t a transition period from the main characters being strangers to lovers. I would have loved to have seen more scenes of them bonding and really getting to see moments that showed why they fell for each other. It was just really fast flipping from attraction to devoted love, it left me feeling like I was missing something.
kkrol's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0