corvinascloud's reviews
874 reviews

The Good Girl by Alexa Riley

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.0

Emperor of Wrath by Jagger Cole

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was such a strong and solid start to a new series within this mafia universe, and after over 10 books i have to admit this still felt fresh, even though it used tropes that the author has done before in prior stories. regardless of my opinion about some of the previous books, both taylor’s and now her twin’s stories are some of, if not the best work of jagger cole, in my opinion. he knows how to write badass fmcs, i have to give it to him. plus, i spent the good majority of the first 20% of the book laughing, their banter and individual personality was so funny and charming. i swear every line of both dialogue and inner monologue of annika put a goofy smile on my face. she might be my new favorite female lead within this universe. but above all, it was refreshing to read a good mafia book that truly focused on the yakuza, was set it japan, and didn’t involve the italian mob. even the little details about lesser known syndicates, such as korean and serbian criminal factions feed my forensics academic heart. 

The Bad Man by Alexa Riley

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

i NEED this as a full length dark romance 

The Sotíras by Nouha Jullienne

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“my need for you goes beyond anything that can be put into words. it’s madness. to have the burning desire to be with a woman i can’t have. take me out of my misery, i beg you.” 

i think i didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous two in the series because i had my own expectations about what this would turn out to be, based on those same ones, and when that didn’t happen i wanted more. and it’s not that my expectations weren’t met per se, nor that the writing was bad, because it wasn’t. it’s the time jumps; it felt like every time the plot was progressing and the characters were founding their footing something would inevitably force the timeline to skip. one step forward, three steps back. i’m not a fan of that continuous back and forth, i know this was somewhat of a slow burn which warranted both those things, but it’s not for me. i did love the therapy sessions and wanted more of them healing both separately and together because the majority of the book, more than a love story, it was pain, pain, pain. 

* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review 

Cruel Dominion by Poppy St. John

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

“if you think for one fucking second i don’t want you, you are criminally insane.” 

i’m not the biggest fan of billionaire romance, but this author makes me a believer every single time simply because her mmcs not only are simps but also stalkers involved in the criminal underworld. but the best part of her books are the badass fmcs in their different shades and facets. she always manages to surprise me with the way she portrays women, especially types of women that are usually invisible and don’t have a voice in romance. yes, one could argue this was about a spoiled brat, but they’d be missing the point entirely. i read this story in one sitting, the second chance of it all coming from my heart. i especially appreciated that most of the flashbacks where in carter’s pov. one thing about this author is she conveys in depth men’s emotions.  

* i was sent an arc by the author and wildfire marketing in exchange for a honest review

God Of Vengeance by Michelle Heard

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“i paid with blood for you. you now belong to me.” 

by now it’s a fact that michelle heard always leaves the best book in all her mafia series for last. this was everything, as per usual. what can i say that i haven’t yapped about before? she simply knows what she’s doing when it comes to mafia romance and never disappoints. to think that this is her fourth finished mafia series and i still come back to every new book every single time and finish them feeling like there will never be enough of them speaks for itself. if it was up to me, i’d never leave both her mafia universes, being the og or this one. the more books the merrier, i don’t think i could ever get tired of it. and lastly, the fmc was the best part of this entire story, and i think some of my other favorites of this author would love her, mainly my girl isabella.  

* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review 

Monomaniac by Raphaella Carver

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 “i would die for you, but ultimately, dying is easy. for you, i would live and suffer gladly every second of my existence on this damned earth.” 

there are truly no words and i’m honestly ill equipped to do any justice to this book, this sacred text. i didn’t think i would find two books in my lifetime that were so intrinsically and perfectly written for me and then this story came into my miserable existence when i didn’t know i needed it the most. it was so hauntingly poetic. genuinely, and i do mean this wholeheartedly, one of the most beautiful prose i’ve ever had the absolute honor and privilege to read in all my years on this damned earth. the way the author portrayed communication between the couple with barely no spoken dialogue throughout almost half of the book, through their eyes only, was boundlessly romantic. if there ever was an embodiment of my all-time favorite trope “i see you” it’s them. they are an alternate version of vad and corvina in a parallel universe. the pipeline from “gothikana” to “monomaniac” is written in tears and inked in blood on my very own black soul. gomez and morticia addams don’t hold a candle to dante and ophelia.  

* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review

Vows From Hell by Kat King

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

arc review to come

The Fates We Tame by Scarlett Cole

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

every time i think this series can’t possibly get any better the author releases a new book. and what a fucking book this was. i genuinely think this story had possibly all my favorite tropes in it. and not only that, but it was a mafia x motorcycle club crossover. how could it possibly get any better? if it was an amnesia romance, but like it’s never been done before. i was gagged when i found out they had both lost their memory. yes, that’s right, they both had amnesia. i can’t. it was achingly beautiful witnessing them equally going through physical therapy and psychological therapy alike. their disabilities and struggles weren’t brushed over, quite the contrary. they weren’t healed or cured by the end. and the smut was realistic in the way that accommodations had to be made, yet it was normal. it was raw. it was vulnerable. it made me cry and feel seen. and how the found family aspect came to play, the way the mc rallied behind their brother and the old ladies embraced the fmc. her and catalina are the most improbable iconic duo i didn’t know i needed. but niro stays undefeated and undisputed as my favorite character (and his book remains the best, i’m not sorry).

* i was sent an arc by wildfire marketing in exchange for a honest review 

Shackled by Jane Henry

dark inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i love having her at my command. to win the attention of a woman like this would be a man’s crowning joy. to win her devotion, his absolute triumph. beauty is fleeting, but her fire and brilliance, her indomitable spirit and fierce intelligence behind those captivating eyes – now that’s what drives a man to his knees.

 

i always have a great reading experience with these books, and i do believe every time a new installment of the series comes out they keep getting better, but this one was by far the best. it’s no wonder, the story felt a bit reminiscent of some of my favorites. yet, what made it stand out was the fmc. which might sound a bit redundant, given how i rave about the female leads of this universe every single book, but isabella was everything; the author fully reached her potential and not only gave me another badass fmc, but she was ruthless and unhinged, exactly my type. her thought process was so enthralling, albeit unreliable at times, which i loved, and a testament to that was the fact that i wouldn’t have mind in the least if the entire book was written solely through her pov. however, i did fold for lev, out of all the brothers (except the last one that’s getting his story next) he’s my favorite, just like his girl. they’re the definition of power couple. 

* i was sent an arc by valentine pr in exchange for a honest review