imskylow's review against another edition
I had to DNF this book. The writing felt very juvenile. The words don’t have weight. The prose is stiff and unyielding and the emotions felt dry to me. There was also a big lack of imagery. I tried to skip forward to see what the book would feel like later and I was not terribly impressed by what I found. This plot of this book is merely a vehicle for the smut. I say this as a reader who enjoys smut: I feel like each tool an author uses in a story should be carefully placed, crafted, and utilized. Smut just isn’t interesting when there’s a lack of believability and a real sense of tension.
I received the digital version of this book as a ARC books from NetGalley, which is interesting because Goodreads says this book was published back in 2020. Not quite sure why this available for review now in 2023.
I received the digital version of this book as a ARC books from NetGalley, which is interesting because Goodreads says this book was published back in 2020. Not quite sure why this available for review now in 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Antisemitism
booksalacarte's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5⭐️ 3🌶️
Mafia dark romance
Beauty and the beast retelling
Enemies to lovers
Professional ballerina
Opposites attract
“Touch her and die”
The writing is really stilted int he beginning. Maybe it’s the dual first person POV. And it’s needlessly repetitive. Something said in chapter 2 is almost verbatim in chapter 6.
The monotonous replay of a specific scene in the other POV in first person isn’t interesting, it’s boring.
The characters are under developed. There is such potential, but their character arcs are rushed and their relationship arc hardly goes beyond Stockholm syndrome. Their on page interactions are very few, making their relationship seem very immature. There is very little on page tension because they hardly ever interact.
But it was a quick and easy read.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books/Sourcebooks for an Advanced Reader Copy of the ebook in return for an honest review.
Mafia dark romance
Beauty and the beast retelling
Enemies to lovers
Professional ballerina
Opposites attract
“Touch her and die”
The writing is really stilted int he beginning. Maybe it’s the dual first person POV. And it’s needlessly repetitive. Something said in chapter 2 is almost verbatim in chapter 6.
The monotonous replay of a specific scene in the other POV in first person isn’t interesting, it’s boring.
The characters are under developed. There is such potential, but their character arcs are rushed and their relationship arc hardly goes beyond Stockholm syndrome. Their on page interactions are very few, making their relationship seem very immature. There is very little on page tension because they hardly ever interact.
But it was a quick and easy read.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books/Sourcebooks for an Advanced Reader Copy of the ebook in return for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Cursing, Suicide, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Murder, Stalking, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Rape, Violence, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
lexinator's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Suicide
ariana_m's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed reading this a lot. I loved beauty and the beast themes as well as the little nods to the movie mentioned in there. Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite movies so I liked that a lot. I liked Miko and Nessa together. I loved the touch her and I'll kill you vibes, it never misses. I liked how he brought out her true feelings about things. Their relationship was really insta lovey/lust but I know that's the point. I really liked the relationship between Ness and Klara, that was really cute. Overall this was a really entertaining book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual assault
carla20's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence
christikb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
Here's my shameful, horribly kept secret. I love alpha mafia men (in fiction only, I swear!). I love fairytales. And I am OBSESSED with these two things when put together. So it makes sense that I fell head over heels for Nessa and Miko's story. And even though Miko and Nessa's storyline is a lot Stockholm Syndrome-y and Miko is the least polished of the Brutal Birthright men and the transition from hate to love is a bit sudden, I am a complete sucker for Stolen Heir. SH is like what would happen if Beauty and the Beast and Swan Lake (the ballet) had an EXTREMELY SPICY, criminal baby and I was here for every second of it. I don't care about any flaw of this story, the prima ballerina and the tattooed Braterstwo leader who bows to no one except this tiny ballerina absolutely slays me. Major trigger warning on rape and suicide in the prologue (which is absolutely gutpunchingly heartbreaking).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault
stuffandwhatnot's review against another edition
emotional
3.75
Another brisk and mostly enjoyable mafia romance, this time with a Beauty and the Beast twist. Not as banter-filled as the previous volume and Miko definitely pissed me off more than Callum did, but man once he realizes he's in love, he's all in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Rape and Suicide
apolen's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Gun violence
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment and Rape
boomwormbrittany's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Stolen Heir is the second book in the Brutal Birthright series. This book follows Nessa, the youngest Griffin child who is kidnapped by another mafia boss, Mikolaj, who is bent on revenge against her family. However, as they start to become closer, it's harder to keep her captive.
I really loved this book. It gave me a darker Beauty and the Beast vibes and I loved that. I thought the writing was so well done. I love Sophie Lark's writing because it's so easy to fall into. I always find myself flying through her books when I am reading because it is so accessible and addicting.
I really loved Miko and Nessa as characters. I thought that they were really interesting and distinct from one another. I really loved that Nessa was a dancer and that she was very focused on her dancing. I thought Miko was really interesting to read from as well. He had a very rough start to it and the beginning of this had me heartbroken for him.
The reason this book got a four and a half stars was because the relationship between Miko and Nessa seemed to have developed really quickly without them being around each other as much as I expected. However, it was acknowledged in this book and I appreciated seeing the way Sophie Lark brought them together.
I would say if you want a very accessible and well written mafia romance, definitely pick up this series.
I really loved this book. It gave me a darker Beauty and the Beast vibes and I loved that. I thought the writing was so well done. I love Sophie Lark's writing because it's so easy to fall into. I always find myself flying through her books when I am reading because it is so accessible and addicting.
I really loved Miko and Nessa as characters. I thought that they were really interesting and distinct from one another. I really loved that Nessa was a dancer and that she was very focused on her dancing. I thought Miko was really interesting to read from as well. He had a very rough start to it and the beginning of this had me heartbroken for him.
The reason this book got a four and a half stars was because the relationship between Miko and Nessa seemed to have developed really quickly without them being around each other as much as I expected. However, it was acknowledged in this book and I appreciated seeing the way Sophie Lark brought them together.
I would say if you want a very accessible and well written mafia romance, definitely pick up this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder
darkclouds's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Wasted potential really.
Miko's character was much more compulsive and for the most part, I could bear the leads for this story. What Sophie Lark couldn't sell me on was the immediate empathy between them two following ONE dinner and a dance. We went from Nessa being frightened, to a forced dinner playing dress up and dancing like Beauty and the Beast (which this story tried so hard to reimagine) to suddenly placing niceties and an odd shared compassion for one another.
It did not flow. At all.
We knew the Stockholm Syndrome vibes was already toeing the line but there was barely any development for them to have reached an understanding after 2/3 interactions. Also Nessa being SO SMART that she could speak Polish that fluent after reading translated books of her favourite children books? Being receptive when it comes to learning choreography in dance is NOT the same as adeptly learning a whole new language. Especially one so difficult.
A whole lot was happening and yet nothing at all. Because it's just narrated to us without actually showing us what's happening. So the whole book went on Nessa being pampered. Miko stalking her on CCTV. Lot of food and scenes with bonding with the Polish speaking maid whom Nessa easily understood. Intelligence you guys. Remember?
We went from lowkey slow burn to instalove in moments I don't even know how that was possible.
It was a messy wrap up but it was a degree better than the first story that's for sure.
Miko's character was much more compulsive and for the most part, I could bear the leads for this story. What Sophie Lark couldn't sell me on was the immediate empathy between them two following ONE dinner and a dance. We went from Nessa being frightened, to a forced dinner playing dress up and dancing like Beauty and the Beast (which this story tried so hard to reimagine) to suddenly placing niceties and an odd shared compassion for one another.
It did not flow. At all.
We knew the Stockholm Syndrome vibes was already toeing the line but there was barely any development for them to have reached an understanding after 2/3 interactions. Also Nessa being SO SMART that she could speak Polish that fluent after reading translated books of her favourite children books? Being receptive when it comes to learning choreography in dance is NOT the same as adeptly learning a whole new language. Especially one so difficult.
A whole lot was happening and yet nothing at all. Because it's just narrated to us without actually showing us what's happening. So the whole book went on Nessa being pampered. Miko stalking her on CCTV. Lot of food and scenes with bonding with the Polish speaking maid whom Nessa easily understood. Intelligence you guys. Remember?
We went from lowkey slow burn to instalove in moments I don't even know how that was possible.
It was a messy wrap up but it was a degree better than the first story that's for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide