3.5/5 Stars
Breaking Rosalind is the latest installment in Gigi Styx's dark and intense series, and it continues the trend of emotionally charged characters and high-stakes mafia drama that fans of her work have come to expect. This particular book focuses on Rosalind, an assassin whose traumatic past and complicated relationship with Cesare, the younger brother of a previous love interest, provide the bulk of the emotional weight.
First, let’s talk about the good. Styx's writing is, as always, strong. The pacing is tight, the mafia elements are engaging, and there’s a real sense of atmosphere that adds to the suspense. The characters, especially Rosalind, are well-developed and complex. Rosalind’s struggles with her past and her desire for revenge are compelling, and her resilience in the face of Cesare’s betrayal adds a lot of emotional depth. The tension between them is palpable, and while I did find myself wanting her to unleash more fury upon him (seriously, she’s an assassin—let her loose!), her decision to forgive him because of his connection with her sister is believable, if a bit frustrating.
Now, onto Cesare... Oh boy. Someone get him therapy for his pet rabbit trauma, as one review succinctly put it. Cesare’s character is a bundle of insecurities wrapped in a smoldering package of guilt. He’s definitely a character who grows on you. At first, I found him a little ridiculous—his overwhelming guilt over the things he did to Rosalind had me rolling my eyes a few times. But I have to admit, Styx really digs deep into his emotional range, and by the end, I found myself somewhat endeared to him. He’s the classic youngest sibling with a boatload of unresolved issues, and his moments of vulnerability are both shocking and, dare I say, even a little charming. His relationship with Rosalind has its ups and downs, but seeing him mature in the later chapters was satisfying.
That said, I’m still torn on whether Cesare truly deserved Rosalind’s forgiveness. While he does express genuine remorse, his actions earlier in the story are so over-the-top that I found myself wondering if he’d truly earned her trust—or if this was just another redemption arc playing out. I can see how his epilogue offers a hint of maturity, but I’d like to believe that Rosalind’s arc was more about her growth and independence rather than just forgiving a flawed man.
The plot itself is solid, though it doesn’t quite hit the emotional highs of previous books in the series. While the mafia elements and assassin group dynamic continue to intrigue, there are moments where I wished the story would delve deeper into Rosalind's inner turmoil, especially after everything Cesare put her through. Instead, we get a lot of surface-level action and emotional conflict that doesn’t quite live up to the intense setup of the earlier chapters.
The romance between Cesare and Rosalind is another aspect that left me with mixed feelings. There’s no denying the chemistry between them, but I just couldn’t fully buy into their relationship after the damage he caused her. I wanted more from their reconciliation—more anger, more catharsis, more revenge (okay, maybe I’m a bit bloodthirsty).
In conclusion, Breaking Rosalind is a solid addition to Styx's series, but it’s not without its flaws. The characters are compelling, the writing is strong, and there are plenty of moments that kept me hooked. However, the emotional resolution between Rosalind and Cesare felt a bit rushed, and I couldn't quite shake the feeling that some of the tension and potential for a more satisfying arc was left on the table. Still, I’m invested enough in the world Styx has created to keep reading, and I’m curious to see where the series goes from here.
If you’re a fan of dark romance with complicated characters and mafia intrigue, this one’s worth checking out—but do read the triggers first, as the themes of trauma and emotional abuse are intense.