I didn’t particularly like Vanessa. I absolutely hated Dante. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading.
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES
Vanessa Brooks (~36) | Dante Salvato (45)
FEATURES
∘ mafia romance
∘ contractual agreement
∘ one-sided hate
∘ two-sided desperation
∘ boss/employee
REVIEW
The storytelling of this novel was so immersive that even when I wanted to choke the characters for being fickle (Vanessa), being an asshole (Dante), or being annoying (both), I was having a grand ole time.
Their antics may have been juvenile, but I loved the jealousy and tension from both of them. They each were playing the same game, the other confident in their ability to win. Of course, whatever Dante wants he gets, although Vanessa did put up a fight (barely).
Dante was a garbage human being. Not just in his horrible actions, but also in his false sanctimony. He thinks that not hitting women makes up for how he treats them—including Vanessa. He trades notoriously harmful drugs (fentanyl), while also employing and befriending Eli, who does despicable things in the name of torture. Dante is a mobster, so of course he’s not going to be an outstandingly good person; I wasn’t holding him to any standard. I just wasn’t buying his self-righteous attitude, but I don’t think the author expected us to.
My feelings on Vanessa are conflicted. On the one hand, she’s been in situations that have seriously harmed her self-esteem and self-worth, and there is always sympathy there. But on the other hand, she suffered from the same moral superiority that Dante did even though her morals weren’t any better. Almost every single thing she got mad at him for, she was also guilty of. She was treated as someone with wisdom from her life experiences, but she kept making poor decisions/behaviors or excusing the poor decisions/behaviors of others. I don’t know if she was soft-hearted or cutthroat, as she seemingly bounced back and forth.
There was foreshadowing throughout that hinted at various plot points that ~maybe~ were a little obvious, yet that didn’t take away from any of the twists or revelations.
Savage Little Games was the perfect setup for the rest of the series. It seamlessly introduced characters and established the setting in a way that is going to help future books while also not taking away from its own. Lane Hart has written a world I wasn’t ready to leave. Even with my qualms, I couldn’t stop turning the page.
OW/OM DRAMA OM — after making the arrangement with Dante, Vanessa gets a lap dance from a male stripper where she very nearly climaxes ||| multiple OW — Dante has slept with many woman, and he also receives dances to make Vanessa jealous
CHEATING no
THIRD ACT BREAKUP yes — reconciliation shortly after
ENDING HEA — six months later epilogue
POV dual / first person
SPICE LEVEL 4.5 / 5
RATING 3.5 / 5
I received this ARC from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.