Scan barcode
A review by rjordan19
Dark Succession by Katee Robert
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (I didn’t get a ton of tension because of the elements of instalust here)
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (It’s hard to tell on audio! But a bit more than average length??)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (at least….note taking got bad. Might be 5/6 scenes total)
Humor: a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (and a few minor scenes from some other characters, villains, etc)
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but probably more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in, about 7% or chapter
Cliffhanger: this ends with a happy ever after for the couple but a bit of a cliffy for the plot and other couples that their books are next in the series.
Epilogue: no
Format: listened to the audiobook from my library (hoopla), but I was also given a NetGalley ARC in e-book form and was very late in reviewing it….
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Robert’s The O’Malleys.
Basic plot:
Teague and Callista are forced in an arranged marriage for their families.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Boston setting
- arranged marriage
- protective hero
- mafia romance
- who did this to you??
- touch of heroine nurses hero back to health
- higher steam – note taking was bad but I’d say at least 4-5 scenes between the mains and another scene between side characters
Ages:
- I didn’t hear them mentioned….would guess late 20s to early 30s?
First line: (taken from audio, might be butchered.)
Callista Sheriden pulled at the hem of her dress, wishing she’d chosen something else for this ill-advised trip.
My thoughts:
I did like this one overall. It was fun to have as an audiobook while I was doing other tasks. It took me a bit to get into the narrators here, though it may have just been the Boston accents too.
I didn’t get a ton of feels in this one though because of the elements of instalust between the mains. I liked how the hero was pretty much all in after meeting the heroine and very protective. I didn’t know what this one was about going in, and I’ve been wanting to try more ‘mafia’ plotlines so I liked that it was a pleasant surprise in that way!
I was annoyed with a few things here. I felt like I wanted the mains on page more. There was a lack of trust and communication between them while fucking which always leaves me with less feels...I guess I want that build up more...I would maybe read another in this series (specifically Kerrigan’s story) because I was kind of drawn into their story but that also bothered me a bit because I definitely prefer books that are focused on the main couple only.
So I’m not super eager to continue with the series but might at some point!
Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘angel’.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 4.5 stars
Favorite book: Neon Gods
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- assault on the heroine, choking, hitting, throwing her and another victim was in the room and may have been dead (not the hero)
- murder on page in self defense
- smoking, alcohol
- scenes of gun violence and death
- human trafficking
- violence including a bit of torture, whipping/caning (off page), physical beating
- minor mention of religion/Catholicism
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Condoms used
Hows the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!) There is talk about her needing to be ‘married to an appropriate man and extend the empire with children’ as a family responsibility. Both mention they do want kids someday, but use condoms during sex.
There is a kiss or two prior to 17%
24% - 🔥 kisses that lead to oral for her in a car
32% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure in the bath (maybe a touch short)
34% - 🔥 kisses, oral/fingering for her, bj for him (complete)
(Note taking got bodgy) about 60% 🔥 her on top sex
apparently I didn’t take any more notes...I know there’s a sex scene between Kerrigan and another character (sorry, terrible with names)...and I think maybe one more between Callie and Teague.
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ (I didn’t get a ton of tension because of the elements of instalust here)
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 (It’s hard to tell on audio! But a bit more than average length??)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (at least….note taking got bad. Might be 5/6 scenes total)
Humor: a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (and a few minor scenes from some other characters, villains, etc)
More character focused or plot focused? a mix but probably more plot
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: not too far in, about 7% or chapter
Cliffhanger: this ends with a happy ever after for the couple but a bit of a cliffy for the plot and other couples that their books are next in the series.
Epilogue: no
Format: listened to the audiobook from my library (hoopla), but I was also given a NetGalley ARC in e-book form and was very late in reviewing it….
Should I read in order?
This is the first in Robert’s The O’Malleys.
Basic plot:
Teague and Callista are forced in an arranged marriage for their families.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Boston setting
- arranged marriage
- protective hero
- mafia romance
- who did this to you??
- touch of heroine nurses hero back to health
- higher steam – note taking was bad but I’d say at least 4-5 scenes between the mains and another scene between side characters
Ages:
- I didn’t hear them mentioned….would guess late 20s to early 30s?
First line: (taken from audio, might be butchered.)
Callista Sheriden pulled at the hem of her dress, wishing she’d chosen something else for this ill-advised trip.
My thoughts:
I did like this one overall. It was fun to have as an audiobook while I was doing other tasks. It took me a bit to get into the narrators here, though it may have just been the Boston accents too.
I didn’t get a ton of feels in this one though because of the elements of instalust between the mains. I liked how the hero was pretty much all in after meeting the heroine and very protective. I didn’t know what this one was about going in, and I’ve been wanting to try more ‘mafia’ plotlines so I liked that it was a pleasant surprise in that way!
I was annoyed with a few things here. I felt like I wanted the mains on page more. There was a lack of trust and communication between them while fucking which always leaves me with less feels...I guess I want that build up more...I would maybe read another in this series (specifically Kerrigan’s story) because I was kind of drawn into their story but that also bothered me a bit because I definitely prefer books that are focused on the main couple only.
So I’m not super eager to continue with the series but might at some point!
Endearments
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating: 4.5 stars
Favorite book: Neon Gods
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- assault on the heroine, choking, hitting, throwing her and another victim was in the room and may have been dead (not the hero)
- murder on page in self defense
- smoking, alcohol
- scenes of gun violence and death
- human trafficking
- violence including a bit of torture, whipping/caning (off page), physical beating
- minor mention of religion/Catholicism
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
Hows the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story? (Please note this is the best to my memory/note taking. If you see something I missed please feel free to message!)
There is a kiss or two prior to 17%
24% - 🔥 kisses that lead to oral for her in a car
32% - 🔥 heroine self pleasure in the bath (maybe a touch short)
34% - 🔥 kisses, oral/fingering for her, bj for him (complete)
(Note taking got bodgy) about 60% 🔥 her on top sex
apparently I didn’t take any more notes...I know there’s a sex scene between Kerrigan and another character (sorry, terrible with names)...and I think maybe one more between Callie and Teague.