I can't stop stealing hearts. Leaving Thornhaven and the Kings who stole mine was my only shot at chasing my dreams, Until tragedy pulled me back into the chaos I thought I’d escaped
The Chessmen—Juan "Cast" Castillo, Damien Sterling, and Vincent Beaumont—are waiting, furious and betrayed, thirsting for revenge. They have no idea what’s coming—the dark forces hunting me, the secret of my fading heart, and the storm I’ve unleashed.
I need their trust to survive, but can they ever trust me with their hearts again? Or will I have to steal them—still beating—from their chests?
They want to punish me for my mistakes, But they won’t know what hit them when I make them wish they’d worshiped me instead.
Lords of Savage is Book 3 in the Ruthless Kings of Thornhaven Series. A Why Choose Reverse Harem Dark Mafia College Romance.
From the I highly recommend reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment. Book 1 Novella-Lords of Ruin Book 2 Lords of Ruin-OWNED Book 3 Lords of Ruin-SAVAGE
This book was really frustrating compared to the previous ones. I felt like it jumped around a bit and got somewhat chaotic. Mostly I couldn’t get over what a mess Willow is. What she’s putting these men through is ridiculous and all of it could be resolved if she would grow up and communicate. I also don’t understand how we went from them all mutually sharing her to now they all want her to themselves yet she’s still with them all. Some pieces don’t add up.
I was excited to start this series. It started out really strong. Then it just lind of faded off... there wasn't anything concrete and it felt like the author was just throwing different ideas into a story line that was still in progress. In the 2nd book she said something about Damien taking a pillow and laying on the floor next to her bed "like he did before".... that was never mentioned before. They weren't like that in the life before she ran away. Then there are little nuances that don't mix all over the place. I dont like writing reviews that say anything negative, I'm not trying to be. Hopefully the author will see this and find a little inspiration to adjust the story accordingly. I paid for these books and will read the next one. I'm hoping for redemption.
I still don't understand why the first book was on 70 pages though...
I love this series. I want to love it so much more, but I feel like the writing style is off, or the author has no idea where the story is going. If I wasn't dying to know what happens at the end, I wouldn't continue reading this flip flop wishy washy series. The fact that I have never dnf'd is gutting me right now 🙄
Willow ran away, because that's what she does. She swears to keep her secret that caused her to run away just that, a secret. Yet, she spoils it pretty easily and there's basically no consequences? The guys say they're mad at her, but they're not..not even a little. It's like they forget they're supposed to be mad, then blink and are mad again, have sex and magically not mad, but might be mad again later!? Lol, it's honestly a bit hard to follow with the way the story is constantly changing and evolving, and that's not really a good thing. Here's to hoping the next couple of books go better.. and ya know maybe a HEA instead of a cliff hanger every time.
Sophie Rivers delves into the dark and violent ways of the Castillo cartel in this third book of a continuing reverse harem story.
This book is much darker and more intense than the previous books in the saga of the Chessmen and their transition from high school bullies into three men who are powerful, violent, and obsessed with the same woman. This latest installment focuses more on Cast as he struggles to show his dominance and strength as the youngest king of a cartel. His obsession with Willow has intensified as he is set on claiming her as his queen.
The readers can see the once innocent virgin, Willow—previously considered a pawn of the Chessmen—transition into the dark queen of Cast’s deadly cartel.
This is a powerful excerpt: Willow looks at me, her eyes cold, and there's the faintest flicker of pride, like she knows she’s crossed a line that can never be uncrossed. There's something in her now—something dangerous, something unspoken. It’s clear she’s no longer the novice who entered this room. She’s in control, and Tomas knows it too. He can see the transformation in her eyes, and it terrifies him.
Unlike some reviewers, I never give a synopsis of the book or reveal spoilers when I do a review, so this is my opinion on the merits of this book and the author’s talent and skill at bringing the story to life. The writing was smooth and easy to follow, making it a great read. It was a mix of steamy, sweet, and a bit depraved and unsettling, but I absolutely loved it. The story took some dark and unexpected turns, which only made me enjoy it even more!
I am anxiously awaiting the final book in this trilogy to find out if Willow chooses one of them. Or does she choose them all? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Dark Reverse Harem Bully Mafia Romance in the Series of Ruthless Kings Of Thorhaven book 3. Please know there could be a few spoilers about prior books. PLEASE start with the first book in this series. And yes this is a dark, intense and graphic story. I’d read in one session if life didn’t interrupt me. We pick up with Willow having disappeared after an “insident”. Cast runs his father’s Cartel since his father’s murder three years ago. He’s called La Parca, The Grim Reaper. Vincent is now Cast’s right hand man in the Cartel. He’s missed Willow the most. Leaving him bitter and dark. Damien simmers with anger inside leaving his only release to prey on pedophiles, murderers and men Cast’s gives him to kill. Ruining his hockey carrier because his head wasn’t it the game. They all miss Willow (Rose Taylors) terribly. Leaving each one crazier than in our previous books. They finally find out where’s she’s at and because of hurt, guilt and feeling abandoned by her, they leave her be. But that’s before the Italian Mafia do something to her father and forces them to claim and keep her protected from that mafia. In this book Willow realizes something dark about herself…and she embraces it. So much happens in this book that it grabs you instantly. And sadly choices are made that will change Willow, Cast, Damien and Vincent’s life. I am so hooked on this series that I hope the next books out soon. This one ends on a cliffhanger also, so be aware of that…👍🏻🥰.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Is it just me or do these books skip around adding details that seem to pop up out of nowhere and just are there now with no explanation?
I feel lost at times, more and more are there details that it almost seems like the author forgot she didn't explain or add but are now just there. One example would be Damien sleeping on the floor of Willow's room "like he did when they were young and she was scared". When did that happen before because up until now he hated her so when did that happen when they were young? That is just one example but this happens numerous times in these books.
I do like the story but these characters are hard to nail down. They say they love her but pretty much do everything to hide the truth, lie, manipulate, and use her for their own gains.
Then we have Willow who seems confused ALL the time when it should be simple. You are with 3 guys and sharing is approved and encouraged. So why is she always feeling guilty when she with one or two or even none? I don't get this part, I mean, hello.. they WANT to share you so what is with the guilt?
I am too far in now to quit and plan to read this next book hoping for a better story that will make me care about these characters or what happens to them. The only one I really root for is Vincent. He is the only one that is honest with himself, his friends, and Willow. The others are just placeholders in this series it seems.
Absolutely love this series written by Ms. Rivers. Every single one of her main characters is brilliant, all well rounded and with meat on their bones.
We have the Chessmen:
Vincent - The King. Cast - The Rook. Damien - The Castle.
So does that make Willow the Queen, or is she still a pawn to be sacrificed when needed?
Willow has been away at the prestigious art school, living her life and enjoying her friends, but Damien arrives with bad news and to take her home.
Willow is back home dealing with her loss, when she receives another shock, can she deal with it all? She has her three men around her, but are they back controlling her life again? It gets worse when the men find out that Willow is in danger.
All four are dealing with their emotions for each other. Has Willow come between the men, their brotherhood? Can they survive the fallout of their actions? Has Willow got to choose, and if so, who, and can she stand by her choice?
This book is about obsession, control, love, brotherhood, and family. All playing to win, but who will be sacrificed in the end?
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was pretty heartbreaking. Throughout the entire book there have been painful and scary moments but this installment takes the cake! *Possible spoilers* Why the 3 of them started fighting over her is beyond me. They shared perfectly for so long! Having Damien keep being a jerk is getting old. Seeing the mom come back was painful because prior to this book, it wasn’t even explained where she was. Losing the dad was awful. Vince getting hurt - absolutely devastating. Of course this one needed some more editing also. Several misspelled words and grammar mistakes. The worst though was the missing sentences. There was so much skipped info, it made you feel like a paragraph had been deleted on accident. For example, when Willow runs from Casts penthouse, it’s written as though she runs out in the rain in her nightie. But once she arrives at Vince’s, she’s wearing a hoodie and leggings. Just little things like that add up to confusion that could easily be avoidable if a little more editing a done. Overall, I LOVE THIS SERIES! Definite going to be a reread and can’t wait for more!!!
I'm not really sure why this book took a different turn than the previous ones. It was always agreed that all three men were planning on sharing Willow, and that Willow wanted all three equally. So why go in the marriage direction with just Vicent? He proposed but also seemed to assume things would stay the same, but clearly the other two didn't feel the same. On that topic, it feels like Damien hardly has a relationship with Willow at all. They've kissed and that's about it, otherwise he is holding back due to his own hang-ups. So, his reaction to the engagement seemed over-the-top in comparison to Cast. This book honestly seemed like it did a 180 from the rest of the story and then capturing the threat to Willow seemed pretty anti-climactic. I mean yes, her identity was secret, but it was a quick fight then surrender. The cliff hanger was good though it definitely made me want to dive into book 4 quickly to find out what happens.
I got it in the first book, but this feels more like you must choose.
The 3 MMC's are very different. Vincent is utterly devoted to Willow and bends over backwards for her. Cast well, he is very dominant, possessive, and wants to own her. Damien is so hot and cold it's enough to give a girl whiplash. She hasn't even slept with him yet because he always pulls back. I just think maybe over the 3yrs they were apart, the guys might have figured out a plan. Figured out how things were going to go if she came back. If they knew why she left because one of them did, why didn't he share that? The communication in this book just wasn't there between Willow, Cast, Vincent, and Damien. Yes, Vincent and Willow talk more than the others, but Vincent, these are your best friends. You can't have a serious conversation with them over the woman you all love? Just hope the next book has more communication between the Best friends and the FMC.
OMG spicy it was a page turner and the suspense was intense and insane of chaos. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn't even put it down. The Chessmen had never forgot about her Willow but that doesn't mean they aren't mad or pissed off at her. Willow decide to returns home because of her father's death. Now Damien, Cast, and Vincent don't know what to do or how they feel about Willow again. Will she gave into having true love once again with only one of them or all three of them in this moment. Their lives were about to change in a hurry and it was mafia world of madness and romance. I highly recommend this book and you won't be disappointed. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Trina Jones
So I thought this was meant to be the last book in the series but it definitely left off on a cliffhanger. I loved learning more about these characters and can't wait to see what happens next.
So this book picks up a few years after Willow runs away. The boys call her back after her father is murdered. So she leaves her dream school and goes home to lay her father to rest. The boys almost instantly fall into old habits and she lets them comfort her. But what happens when she finally accepts the proposal from just one of them? Will the other two still stick around? Will she go through with the wedding or will she rise to be Queen of an Empire instead of a pawn?
I loved every second of this book. It did get a little confusing because it went back in time a couple times. But all in all I loved getting to learn more about the characters and how they became what they are today. The past and present did throw the flow and pace off but it was well written and developed. I look forward to reading more.
5 Stars for Lords of Ruin : Savage by Sophie J. Rivers
Everything a reader could want in a “why choose “ with several twists! Great story ! I very rarely get emotional reading books but this one just grabbed at my heartstrings especially when Willow is pushed away from those she loves!
Can’t wait to see how this series ends !
Willow & her Chessmen … Vincent ( the King ) , Cast ( the Rook ) & Damien ( the Knight ) are 🔥 together !
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fighting through the Chaos - Daaaaaam! The title of this book definitely matches the story, because it is packed with action, passion, danger, complex emotions and enough steaminess, that will transport you into a world where the challenges the characters go through, will take you on rollercoaster of emotions, as you delve into the pages of this mesmerizing tale. This enthralling story kept me on the edge of my seat all through out and the genuine urge to read the next book in the series immediately after I finished reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this second book more than expected. Vincent is still my favorite. There is a lot of suspense and an easy read. Towards the ending I didn’t care for the disharmony between the MMC’s. They are supposed to be close as brothers and the indecision of Willow at the end, well I didn’t like how she handled it. The relationship between all of them is just a mess. The relationship between Damien and Will went from hate to love without an in between, no development there. Hope the final book is better.
Willow finally shows some backbone in this one. Damien is still running hot and cold, depending on the day of the week. Cast is his usual unhinged self. And Vincent proposes marriage. They all breakup and make up repeatedly and it’s all very toxic.
Someone’s trying to kill Willow and we never really know exactly why. There’s a lot of drama and action but also tons of spelling and grammatical errors that a decent editor would have corrected. The plot and storyline are inconsistent.
I really want to like this book series, and I'm going to read the next one, but I'm having some struggles. The characters are really immature on the page. They need some growth and development. There are a lot of holes and things that could be fixed with an editorial review. I also think there is a lot missing in the relationship development. I like what is being attempted, but there are some pieces that need some polish and growth. A good start, for sure.
Willow (FMC) is back in her hometown after years of being away because of the repercussions of the end of book 2. Things have changed for the guys - Damien, Cast and Vincent whilst she's been gone. Now that she's back things turn darker for all of them. I can't tell you how frustrated I was that Willow and the guys couldn't get their acts together and make their relationship work. More so with that ending. I'm hoping that the next book will resolve a lot of what was unanswered in this book.
I really really wanted to love this series. The first book captured me immediately, but as time went on there were more and more holes in the storyline and plot. Some of the jumps from character to character left me scrambling to figure out what just happened or where we just went. I truly believe these books have a ton of potential, they just need a bit more organization and polishing up.
Three years after Willow left the Chessmen, tragedy has brought her back. Everything she thought she was these past three years disappears as soon as she gets back in their orbit. The men have changed but thier devotion to her hasn’t, not until one of the three cross a line that betrays the other two. Will Willow survive them? Will she have to choose?
Another good quick read. I don’t want to say too much, don’t want to spoil. I read this in a day. On to the next
The Chessmen never forgot about Willow, but that doesn't mean they aren't pissed off at her. Willow only returns because of her father's death. Damien, Cast, and Vincent don't know what to do or how to feel about Willow, but in the end, a choice is made, and nothing is the same anymore.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The third installment of Willow and the Chessman's story! I felt this was a lot darker than the previous books, but as a dark romance lover i was right there for it all! The suspense and tension was on another level along with the steam....OMG!! Cannot wait for the conclusion, such an amazing story!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This series makes it hard with having different feelings. Elation, love, frustration, sadness, hope, etc. I can keep going. I hope this breaks down on more stories of other characters there were introduced not just about their love. But, I do wish there was more background on how they are all feeling. I can't wait for Book 4 and see where it leads.
When choices do more harm than good Willow and the guys must deal with the repercussions. The ending will leave you breathless as that cliffhanger was a hot mess of emotion. I can't wait for the next installment to see how it all ends.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
this still made no sense. I'm not sure why she ran after she killed Ricardo in self defense. Then she changes her name whilst still being able to go to her dream school, but the author forgot she changed her name after like 2 chapters. And what was the deal with her mom? Usually I complain there's no editor, but in this case it wasn't even proofread.
Great third book, please, please tell me there is a book four! The dynamics between the three of them is so intense. She’ the heartbeat of them all. Dark, dangerous, spicy, loving and shocking. A must read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this read as much as the first one. The characters are still lovable and unique. They survive every obstacle since far. But now its another cliffhanger. I need the next read like now.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So this was good not great I will be continuing on with the next book but I will say the character development was not as good as the first book that being said it is holding my attention and I am enjoying it so three and a half stars but I’ll round up to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So far up to book three I can't put them down I have to know what is happening like right away she has a tough decision to make and I just hope in the end it will be the right one.
Strong characters all with strong personalities. The storyline weaves around them so different yet they love the same woman. She’s walking down the aisle and everything goes dark…..