Im glad I hadn’t read the books from the other brothers because this was literally just a summary of the other books 😆
I was very disappointed with the heroine and I don’t think she was redeemable at all. The only reason why she switched sides is because she finally realized that Fausto was not going to pay her if not she would have still went on with the original plan. I felt so bad for Nico, he actually did genuinely like her but it seemed like all she wanted was sex. Plus there was only a few times they met up throughout the whole book and all they did was have sex.
This book is a big fat no from me. Sofia was awful in so many ways. Cold, unfeeling, and her hypocrisy was astounding. She was working for an absolute monster of a man and had zero qualms about the death and destruction that she helped him cause other than a few passing thoughts. I kept waiting for her to have a crisis of conscience after Niccolo gave her proof of the awful things she helped Fausto do, and nothing, all she cared about was the money and living the good life after getting her payout. Didn’t even care that the goal was to kill her supposed love interest and his brothers. Even the spicy scenes were flat and far between. She came across as just using him for sex, it was icky. Niccolo came off as a spineless sap chasing Sofia even knowing she was the architect of the plan to wipe out his family, who does that. She literally had no redeeming qualities. Towards the end of the book he tells her repeatedly while making love to her that he loves her, she cries a few tears but never says it back. Then when they are in bed together afterwards he begs her to leave Fausto and come with him and she lashed out and accused him of manipulating her. At this point she’s still saying she might be loyal to Fausto knowing all of the atrocities he’s committed, including murdering Niccolo’s father. Her bitterness about being mistreated by all the men in her life didn’t track, yes, her father was a jerk but she knew that for years and struck out on her own and did pretty well for herself, and the only other guy was someone she played chess with who was a sore loser and got her banned from playing, literally one incident. Yet she was perfectly fine being under the thumb of the biggest monster of all as long as she got her money. She finally decided to betray Fausto at 90% and the entire family thanked her after she orchestrated the deaths of so many. What??? Then at 96% Sofia finally had her “epiphany” because she was in love and she could stop being a horrible human. I skimmed the last 20% of the book because by that point I really didn’t care about the HEA. I’m all for a strong FMC, but they need to have at least a shred of decency not a complete lack of morals, ethics, or values.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely couldn't put the book down, it was amazing. I appreciated you reviewing the previous characters and how everyone came to be, like a refresher course. It's been awhile since I read the first book. I love Nico's cunning personality and how he played real life chess against his true love Sofia. She was magnificent, I loved her characterand storyline. My favorite part of the book was at the end when they finally conned Fausto at the end. It was beautifully and masterly written. Well done. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Mafia King Series.
DNF. The plot is beyond ridiculous, way too much recap of the whole series, and the mfc is awful, truly awful!
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. This book is a joke. It has to be as the plot is so insane that I couldn’t believe I was reading it. The author wants us to believe that the evil bad uncle Fausto hires a CHESS PLAYER Sofia who has no experience with the mafia or who people are, to be his consigliere. 😂😂😂😂🙈🙈🙈 Aside from being ridiculous I hated Sofia. She has no feelings for anyone, she had a bad childhood, (Boo hoo.) she has no friends and thinks she’s asexual so has never had sex or wanted to. So how is a woman like that supposed to understand how to manipulate people when she has no one?? She never interacts with anyone, so she has no clue about people and relationships, yet she’s the mastermind behind taking down Dario and his brothers. Half of her plans don’t even make sense. Why would all these people try to kill the brothers?
Then there’s the recapping of the previous books, Niccolo’s childhood, 🥱 Sofia’s childhood 🥱🥱. We really don’t need that. I’m nearly up to 60% and Niccolo is playing Sofia, and Sofia is playing Niccolo while they’re having endless s*x and even that’s cringy. Sofia is supposed to be this incredible mastermind yet she’s incredibly stupid as she doesn’t see that Faust is never going to pay her or let her live. She only joins the other side when she realises that he’s never going to pay her and also he’s evil! Shocker! When she first meets Faust she says she’ll only work for him and plot the brothers deaths if they’re single and there’s no innocent people involved. Yet all the brothers are now married apart Niccolo and she’s still plotting their deaths! She can’t even stick to her own principles!
This is an absolutely terrible book and I loathed Sofia.
Omg what a bloody brilliant end to a fantastic series !! My heart was in my mouth more than once which I was cursing Olivia for but then the twist at the end ….. bloody brilliant !!
I couldn't get on board with Sofia's character. I didn't enjoy her character in this as much as I'd been intrigued by the idea of her character from the other books' lead up. Otherwise, I enjoy the author's storytelling as each story has unfolded from each brother's pov within their own timelines. Some may find the retellings tedious, but I don't. I loved getting those perspectives plus the progression of the overarching storyline from every book. I really love the brothers.
The pacing in the middle half was a bit sluggish, but then it picked up and zoomed ahead with great build-up. My gawd, I love Niccolo. I've been waiting for his story since book 1! My favorite brother by far in an amazing brotherhood.
I feel like after Lars' book, the rest have been a no for me. this book felt like a recap for the series plus... I like strong heroines, but a spineless selfish "woe is me" one with zero remorse? no thanks. Niccolo? I didn't like him either. at this point, I don't know if I'm even going to read Gio's book because I just don't care about this series anymore.
This is the last book in this part of the series. It appears the author is writing some more books in this world but this story arc definitely came to a conclusion in this book.
Some thoughts about the series: I love the covers, well done to the artist. The story arc is complex, has lots of layers and moving parts and the author does a fabulous job of coordinating the last four books all happening at mostly the same time. They overlap and we get new details in each book without too much repeating of events but enough reminders of what has happened in other books.
Chess comes up in this book and it really felt like the whole series was written by someone with the same sort of strategic mind - so much planning and looking several moves ahead.
I also liked that it took place mostly in Italy.
The thing I probably liked the least about the series is the characters (especially Lucia, Valentino, Caterina, this MMC, and MFC). However, their relationships with each other as a group were really nice, especially the MMC and Dario, and Lars and Dario (this bromance is by far my favorite).
About this book in particular, may the universe save us from “smart” humans, especially the ones who think themselves right out of having any sort of stable morality.
“She was cheating, yes – And using lies to do it – But in the end, she was still winning.”
Both the main characters have that kind of “gifted”-I'm-the-smartest- person- in- the-room thing going on.
“I’ll confess, I’d snidely thought of them as a kitchen worker and a former waitress. What could they possibly do to challenge me, a consigliere of the Cosa Nostra?”
And I don't understand how people can have a healthy relationship when trust is in such short supply - both characters are always calculating and manipulating without much in the way of core values, other than “the family”.
Some of my favorite lines:
Aurelio is a great idiot villain,
“And what great insights do you bring to the table?” he asked in a mocking voice. “Well, for one, I can see you’re going to be one of our biggest liabilities,” I shot back.
And,
“Aurelio beamed like a two-year-old who’d had his first bowel movement in a potty-training bowl.”
Dario’s ability to always put the MMC in his place,
“Lars wants to go after the love of his life. You want to go halfway across the world on the slim chance some woman will be at a poker tournament. Who’s the bigger fool in this scenario?”
The MFC's response to the boss bad guy,
“He settled back in his chair and looked at me with disdain. “You’re not the woman I hoped you were.” “Thank God for that,” I snarled.”
Niccolo is the sixth brother and the last to have his story told in this series. The author does such a great job of recounting all the family has been through from Niccolo’s point of view using short and concise sentences. At one point I thought you could read the last book without the others and still have a clear understanding of the what happened in the series.
This is a he falls first, mafia romance with a well told story that includes some violence and a little spice. Niccolo was his brother’s counselor and all of his decisions were based upon what was best for the family. He falls for a woman who as intelligent as he is…Sofia’s mind and ability to plan things out is why he’s drawn to her.
The best part is that all of the loose ends are tied up in a believable way. All the brothers find love. The war with their uncle is resolved and they’re looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
It was an amazing journey and I enjoyed every bit of the ride.
Niccolo and Sofia's story was amazing and intense! This one has it all--suspense, drama, spice, and some humor. This whole series repeats info/scenes from prior books, but it's brief and needed and I felt this one gave the same info/scene but from the best perspective and I didn't skim it this time. You see how these two saw things, thought about them and interacted on each side and together in this and I didn't know what to believe until the very very end. So many twists to this one I was amazed.
This whole series was a different mafia story than I've read to date and so well done (even if info/scenes were redone--they were done exact and not modified which was appreciated, regardless of which view we saw it from--I saw how it was necessary to be done this way as each story was read). Each character was flawless throughout each book and very well developed. I 1000% recommend this whole series to everyone.
I devoured this book in just a day and a half. I couldn’t put it down! It read like a movie from start to finish, fast-paced, vivid, and totally addictive. Niccolo has always been one of my favorite characters, and oh wow… Sofia is his perfect match. Their chemistry, tension, and love story had me hooked.
This is the seventh book in the series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous books to truly appreciate the depth of the story and the powerful connections between all the characters. Each book is a thrilling ride, diving deep into the lives of the main couple, but it’s the incredible supporting cast that adds so much richness and gravitas to the entire series.
What a phenomenal way to wrap up an unforgettable mafia saga. Thank you, Olivia, for this epic journey. I can’t wait to read Giorgio’s story next!
When i read Dario, the first book in this series, I'd not read this author before. That book started a little rough for me but it got so much better. Every book since has been even more amazing.
I've never before seen a writer flesh out a story line the way Olivia Thorn does. Every single book brought more of the whole story together and the conclusion was amazing!
You should read this series in order or you'll miss the whole effect. There is graphic sex (and it's great). There are some dark themes, so be aware.
Truly though this is the best group of anti-heros I've read in a long time. They are masterfully brought through a well thought out and beautifully delivered over-arching storyline as well as their individual stories.
This whole series and the author are worth every minute you'll spend getting to know them.
so this was the best book of the series because it wraps uo all aspects of all the books. what I can say is I honestly didn't care for Sofia much. I noticed all the female leads in the author books aren't portrayed the best in their books for some reason but Sofia took the cake. She was a little too shady for my taste, only cared about money and really didn't care about who got hurt. She doesn't diaplay much emotions.she only finally turned the table literally at the end of the book int the last few chapters because she knew Fausto would betray her and kill her, so once again she was literally only looking out for herself if you really think about it to cover her own behind. I really didn't find her redeemable or trust worthy. I think a character like her can easily switch sides.
Whew! This was a long book. It was slow going at first, but picked up later. Another fantastic book in the series. It looks like Georgio will be the next book (maybe the last?) in this series. But as for this novel, wow! That was exiting, intriguing, and suspenseful. It was full of secrets and surprises and betrayal and happiness. It got pretty complicated there for a while, but eventually worked itself out. The two main characters we’re both brilliant in their own right and were likable. It was found family. And this family always works hard for each other. I hope there will be a legacy series from these couples. Can’t wait for the next in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
I loved the Mafia Kings’ books- other than this one. Basically I didn’t think that either Sofia or Niccolo were likeable characters. I really did not like Sofia at all throughout the book. She was manipulative, greedy and sold her soul for money. She might have been really smart but she was rude and condescending. In the other books, I found myself liking the brothers and their wives. Putting aside that they were Cosa Nostra, they were all people that you might want to be friends with. I would never want Sofia in my life. I fell out of “like “ with Niccolo when he sent Valentino to Sicily. All the other brothers chose their person and fell in love. He didn’t give Valentino the option.
Niccolo may have just met his match and unfortunately for the Rosolini brothers, she is working for their uncle. When these two first meet, you can feel the chemistry come off the pages and it only gets better from there. When the war between uncle and nephews really happens, whose side will Sofia be on? Guess you’ll have to read the series/book to find out. I suggest you start with book 1 in this series so you know who is who and why they are doing the things they do. I am so excited to hear about the next book with Giorgio who is a foot soldier for Dario. Seeing things through the eyes of one of their men will be wonderful.
Niccolo thinks of everything, is truly the brain of the family, and cares for all his brothers! The reason the book only gets 3 stars is because he deserves so much more than Sofia.
I really enjoyed reading about Niccolo's experiences, from the beginning of the book of Dario to the end. They didn't have that in other books.
I liked Sofia in the beginning and the end, in between not so much. It is a HAE but I don't think they would last, lol.
I was a bit sad about this being the last book of the brothers (until I saw Olivia is writing another one, but through someone else's eyes, reading that one when it is out).
This book begins with a look into the past, including a recap of what's happened in books 1-6 with Niccolo and his family, from Niccolo and Sofia's perspective. We meet Sofia and learn her backstory. Life and death decisions happen when Sofia and Fausto strike a bargain. Be ready for game theory that involves violence, bloodshed, many murders, deceit, cunning, betrayal, flirting, passion, manipulation and treachery. And whoa, what a twisted ending of this story! This seventh book in this Mafia-themed series is 696 pages long, so get comfortable!
quite long…but it ties the entire series together!
This book was quite long, 171 chapters, but this book tied the entire series together! The ending was quite unbelievable and had me saying, REALLY? The last few chapters could have focused more on Niccolo and Sofia since I have unanswered questions. What did she decide to do after? What did “consulting” look like? Did she get her justice from the guy who cheated her out of that chess championship? Did she keep playing poker or chess professionally? Maybe the next book will answer some questions…
This is one of my favorite series, but I felt like this book fell flat. The first third of the book is just backstory that we already know. I kept waiting for the storyline to develop. It took forever! There wasn't enough buildup for Niccolo and Sofia's relationship, probably because of all the time wasted on backstory. I didn't really enjoy this storyline until the last ten percent of the book. I still pre-ordered the next as I loved the other six books, and I'm hopeful it will redeem the series.
Olivia Thorn has created a masterpiece! It has everything a good mafia story should have. Betrayal, lies, intrigue, love, family, and more. As the story unfolds you begin to wonder will she or won’t she? Niccolo is a confident sassy consigliere and Sofia is just as sassy! The final showdown had me questioning and the suspense as I turned the page had me gritting my teeth waiting to see the outcome. Truly a masterpiece.
An exceptional series!! Should get 10 stars! Kudos to Olivia Thorn!
This is definitely one if the best mafia series ever written! Set in Italy, gorgeous alpha men with their own sexy vibes, women with intelligence and strength, and a writing style that draws you deep into the story. The story maintained its continuity throughout the entire series, and that is so crucial to me.
Read the whole series and fall in love with the Rosolini's. To Family!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the way Olivia Thorn tied all 7 books together. Even if you had not read the first 6 books you were not lost. I loved each brother and can't decide which one I like the best. But of all the women in the brothers lives I think l enjoyed Sofia the best. Like lucia said " You are a badazz bit.h". Until the end though I couldn't decide if she was for good or bad. I can't wait to read the next one.
I am giving this a 4 because 3/4 of the book were mainly a recap of the prior books. But I am so happy that Nicole finally gets his happily ever after and the readers got to read more about the widow and other Don's. The ending had me worried, the last chapters had me thinking no way would the author do this.... what a way to make a reader gasp and silently scream no! If you loved the series, one has to read Niccolo's story.
i was so busy with personal life but I finished this in 5 days technically speaking! It was so goood I had such a good laugh and I loved seeing everything come together from the other books and seeing the mind of Nicolo. The ending was perfect i was almost fooled but nah it was amazing to see Sofia and Nicolo the way their minds work and them finding their match I loved the ending of all the brothers finding happiness 🥰
Loved this series and this family. This author writes so well that it kept me on the edge of my seat. This story was no different. Niccolo and Sofia are the same and so different but the chemistry is off the charts. The world of this mafia family is so fast paced, drama filled and as lovable a mafia family can be. You won’t want to put this book down once you start. Enjoy!
Wow this was a really well written book. It grabbed your focus from the beginning to the end. Honestly I thought about putting it down along the way. I just couldn't buy into Sophia. She was so cold and calculating. I really didn't know which way she would go. I don't want to spoil it for others but I just didn't feel their connection other than just sex. It was a really good story but I wouldn't call it romantic.
I loved Nico.. I loved the whole series. This right here is what it's all about. Envy of what others have. Knowing damn well, they worked their assess off to have what they have. A legacy that was passed down from generation to generation. What was done to the brother by.. No.. I better not say. You have to read the series. Sorry. Not sorry.. Patiently waiting for the next one.
Wow - this was probably the best mafia romance series I've ever rea din terms of tying it all together. Like this book was super repetitive and boring in parts where it just repeats what we already know from reading the other books prior in the series but it actually had a real plot that was cohesive across the entire series. And also kudos to doing an amazing job of ensuring every single book in the series had a totally different type of romance and couple.
I have loved all of these books! I think this one was my favorite! Save the best for the last brother. It explains all the attacks and the behind the scenes from the previous books. Niccolo met his match with Sofia! She keeps you wondering right til the end on what will actually happen! It was a great book! Can’t wait to read the next one to continue on with this great series!