The premise of this book sounded great, and things were off to a great start. However, once Atlas arrived to Dante's home, things quickly derailed and never got quick back on the tracks for me.
Dante is mourning the death of his omega, the love of his life, and is dead set to make everyone else miserable. Atlas - and probably readers, too - will be shocked to find out that Lukas, Dante's omega, has been dead for just over a decade, and Dante is still refusing to move on despite just being in his late 30's with plenty of life to experience and live. I had sympathy for him at first, but I quickly lost any compassion I had for him as he continued to treat Atlas horribly. And then his final 180 personality change felt too little, too late, and not genuine, after all the hurtful things he told Atlas. It's literally the "I can change, I can do it" mentality of an addict.
Simply put - Dante is not deserving of such a wonderful, sweet man that is Atlas. The shit he says and the way he treats Atlas is degrading, not romantic, and is over the top mean. In fact, nearly everyone employed at Dante's home is a bit miserable and suspect in character, like who would want to live at a home where the head housekeeper is a bitch, the stable-man is making a pass at you, and the chauffeur freakin' tases you.
Atlas does what he can, but there is SO MUCH push/pull - Dante wants him, then casts him aside. Says one good thing, then takes it back, that it's no wonder Atlas feels the way he does.
Atlas deserves a better mate, yeah I said it.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.