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The Ferrymen
Ruthless
Falling for my target was never part of the plan. Neither was killing my mentor.
LUKA
I was created to be the perfect weapon with forty-eight confirmed eliminations and counting. I'm the best in the business.
But my newest target is threatening to destroy everything. Who puts a hit out on a therapist? His biggest crime is talking to his plants every morning.
Now, instead of taking the shot, I've broken my contract to protect him and every Ferryman in North America is out to claim the bounty on my head.
We've got one chance at survival, and it means facing the man who spent twenty-six years molding me into his perfect weapon. Prometheus might have named himself after a god, but I know he’s just a man. And all men can die.
VINCENT
I knew I was in trouble when he showed up on my doorstep covered in blood and demanded I come with him.
Now, hiding in an underground world built for professional killers, he's my only chance of survival.
Luka is dangerous, damaged, and devastatingly attractive. I should run. Instead, I can't help but try to heal the man beneath the scars.
As assassins hunt us without reprieve, I'm learning just how far I'll go to protect the broken man I never should have survived, let alone fallen for.
I believe monsters are made, not born. Maybe they can be unmade by love.
RUTHLESS is the first book in The Ferryman series, a dark MM romance series about a secret society of assassins and the men who fall for them.
LUKA
I was created to be the perfect weapon with forty-eight confirmed eliminations and counting. I'm the best in the business.
But my newest target is threatening to destroy everything. Who puts a hit out on a therapist? His biggest crime is talking to his plants every morning.
Now, instead of taking the shot, I've broken my contract to protect him and every Ferryman in North America is out to claim the bounty on my head.
We've got one chance at survival, and it means facing the man who spent twenty-six years molding me into his perfect weapon. Prometheus might have named himself after a god, but I know he’s just a man. And all men can die.
VINCENT
I knew I was in trouble when he showed up on my doorstep covered in blood and demanded I come with him.
Now, hiding in an underground world built for professional killers, he's my only chance of survival.
Luka is dangerous, damaged, and devastatingly attractive. I should run. Instead, I can't help but try to heal the man beneath the scars.
As assassins hunt us without reprieve, I'm learning just how far I'll go to protect the broken man I never should have survived, let alone fallen for.
I believe monsters are made, not born. Maybe they can be unmade by love.
RUTHLESS is the first book in The Ferryman series, a dark MM romance series about a secret society of assassins and the men who fall for them.
478 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2025
422 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 5, 2025
i would like to start with a few positives, because im about to become a raging bitch in a couple of minutes.
the idea is good, and the characters are good.
perfect, now that we got that out of the way, let’s start with the glaring issue: this doesn’t make sense.
spoilers ahead
i know, i know, im petulant and im also repetitive, and yes secrets societies are always iffy to write about, but can we please try to have them make some sense??? if it’s not too much of a bother, of course.
now let’s see some questions about the book, and i’ll reply to the best of my ability.
who are the ferryman?
i want to say assassins that are chosen amongst slightly psychotic children and turned into weapons, but at the end we learn that it’s not really like that, so i’m just going to say assassins and hope im right.
who do they work for?
ancient greek cosplayers with tiny dick syndrome. yes, that’s the actual answer.
if it’s a super secret society that nobody knows it exists, how do people hire the assassins?
who the fuck knows.
if it’s a super secret society that nobody knows about, how come they basically have a giant city to themselves, with buildings and infrastructure and restaurants and everything you might need, and nobody even notices it exists?
who the fuck knows.
how come they are ruthless killers, but they don’t kill in the (super secret) acropolis and cemeteries?
now i can reply to this one. that’s called plot armor. they’re the only two places our characters needed to go to and if they die, the story can’t go forward.
luka keeps talking about the conditioning he went through, but we basically don’t know what he actually went through. how come if that’s a super important part of the plot and who he is as a person, we don’t get to know more?
now that’s a mystery. we don’t get to know anything, only two things. but the main character PHYSICALLY can’t attack his superior. for a second i thought we were in a percy jackson type of book and actual powers were involved, but then i realized that it’s just stolen from black widow, without the pheromones part. (so, yes, with the amount of information we have, it doesn’t make sense).
what do you mean prometheus already knew that luka would fail at killing the therapist?
if your assassin never questioned you, AFTER TWENTY-SIX YEARS, why the fuck would a random therapist he’s supposed to kill in five minutes is a true loyalty test. it doesn’t make any sense.
was it really necessary to say “twenty-six years of conditioning” FOURTY-SEVEN (47) goddamn times?????
no. no it was not.
all in all, the idea is good. i liked the greek mythology inspiration, however im a firm believer that if you want to create a secret world, a secret society and a conspiracy, unfortunately you have to think about your plot for more than five minutes.
i know, im old school like that.
the idea is good, and the characters are good.
perfect, now that we got that out of the way, let’s start with the glaring issue: this doesn’t make sense.
spoilers ahead
i know, i know, im petulant and im also repetitive, and yes secrets societies are always iffy to write about, but can we please try to have them make some sense??? if it’s not too much of a bother, of course.
now let’s see some questions about the book, and i’ll reply to the best of my ability.
who are the ferryman?
i want to say assassins that are chosen amongst slightly psychotic children and turned into weapons, but at the end we learn that it’s not really like that, so i’m just going to say assassins and hope im right.
who do they work for?
ancient greek cosplayers with tiny dick syndrome. yes, that’s the actual answer.
if it’s a super secret society that nobody knows it exists, how do people hire the assassins?
who the fuck knows.
if it’s a super secret society that nobody knows about, how come they basically have a giant city to themselves, with buildings and infrastructure and restaurants and everything you might need, and nobody even notices it exists?
who the fuck knows.
how come they are ruthless killers, but they don’t kill in the (super secret) acropolis and cemeteries?
now i can reply to this one. that’s called plot armor. they’re the only two places our characters needed to go to and if they die, the story can’t go forward.
luka keeps talking about the conditioning he went through, but we basically don’t know what he actually went through. how come if that’s a super important part of the plot and who he is as a person, we don’t get to know more?
now that’s a mystery. we don’t get to know anything, only two things. but the main character PHYSICALLY can’t attack his superior. for a second i thought we were in a percy jackson type of book and actual powers were involved, but then i realized that it’s just stolen from black widow, without the pheromones part. (so, yes, with the amount of information we have, it doesn’t make sense).
what do you mean prometheus already knew that luka would fail at killing the therapist?
if your assassin never questioned you, AFTER TWENTY-SIX YEARS, why the fuck would a random therapist he’s supposed to kill in five minutes is a true loyalty test. it doesn’t make any sense.
was it really necessary to say “twenty-six years of conditioning” FOURTY-SEVEN (47) goddamn times?????
no. no it was not.
all in all, the idea is good. i liked the greek mythology inspiration, however im a firm believer that if you want to create a secret world, a secret society and a conspiracy, unfortunately you have to think about your plot for more than five minutes.
i know, im old school like that.
August 9, 2025
"Get some sleep. I’ll watch over you tonight so you can protect me tomorrow."
Melt my heart. This was so good!
I've never hated a bad guy as much as I hated Prometheus.
Melt my heart. This was so good!
I've never hated a bad guy as much as I hated Prometheus.
Read
January 8, 2026So this is a 6 ⭐️
Now let’s unpack…
First of all, check your trigger warnings, some of them are not mentioned once on a page and that’s it, we are talking about discussing SA multiple times. But let me tell you, the mental health rep is ✨exquisite✨
This book is about finding tenderness in the most violent people. It’s about reaching, with compassion and humanity, to another person, telling them that the choice is theirs and that they are in control.
“What are you thinking about?” Lucas asked. “How sometimes the path we think we’re on isn’t the one we’re meant to follow,” I replied. “And how finding the right path can look a lot like getting completely lost first.”
But most importantly, it’s about these two people who meet unconventionally.
Luka… URGHHH the MAN you are 😩
The reason Luka kept giving for NOT killing Vincent is that “Vincent saw him” 🥹
The thought of Vincent’s life ending, of those gentle hands never touching another plant, of those perceptive eyes never seeing another patient… it hollowed me out from sternum to spine.
See what I mean? 🫲🏻
And Vincent, URGHHH the way you see him is exceptional 🥹
I kissed the top of his head. “Get some sleep. I’ll watch over you tonight so you can protect me tomorrow.”
The absolute devotion and loyalty they had for each other was so fierce and heartwarming ❤️🩹
I needed to be present for him, to bear witness without falling apart. My hands trembled slightly, and I clasped them together to still them.
The heat in this book is beautiful 🤤❤️🔥🌶️ absolutely loved it. The connection they had, how they were synced to each other, chef’s kiss 😗
I absolutely loved this, especially the gummy worms and the soap opera plants’ scenes. 🤣
The side characters were pretty amazing. I am sooo curious about Rhadamanthys. I want to be inside his head and everything.
Lo: icon
All in all, LOVED this book, very engaging plot, kept me on the edge.
When I finally pushed inside, we both froze for a breathless moment. There was a strange poetry to doing it here, surrounded by life and growth. Vincent had planted something in me eight months ago, something that continued to grow despite my damaged soil, my broken roots.
Now let’s unpack…
First of all, check your trigger warnings, some of them are not mentioned once on a page and that’s it, we are talking about discussing SA multiple times. But let me tell you, the mental health rep is ✨exquisite✨
This book is about finding tenderness in the most violent people. It’s about reaching, with compassion and humanity, to another person, telling them that the choice is theirs and that they are in control.
“What are you thinking about?” Lucas asked. “How sometimes the path we think we’re on isn’t the one we’re meant to follow,” I replied. “And how finding the right path can look a lot like getting completely lost first.”
But most importantly, it’s about these two people who meet unconventionally.
Luka… URGHHH the MAN you are 😩
The reason Luka kept giving for NOT killing Vincent is that “Vincent saw him” 🥹
The thought of Vincent’s life ending, of those gentle hands never touching another plant, of those perceptive eyes never seeing another patient… it hollowed me out from sternum to spine.
See what I mean? 🫲🏻
And Vincent, URGHHH the way you see him is exceptional 🥹
I kissed the top of his head. “Get some sleep. I’ll watch over you tonight so you can protect me tomorrow.”
The absolute devotion and loyalty they had for each other was so fierce and heartwarming ❤️🩹
I needed to be present for him, to bear witness without falling apart. My hands trembled slightly, and I clasped them together to still them.
The heat in this book is beautiful 🤤❤️🔥🌶️ absolutely loved it. The connection they had, how they were synced to each other, chef’s kiss 😗
I absolutely loved this, especially the gummy worms and the soap opera plants’ scenes. 🤣
The side characters were pretty amazing. I am sooo curious about Rhadamanthys. I want to be inside his head and everything.
Lo: icon
All in all, LOVED this book, very engaging plot, kept me on the edge.
When I finally pushed inside, we both froze for a breathless moment. There was a strange poetry to doing it here, surrounded by life and growth. Vincent had planted something in me eight months ago, something that continued to grow despite my damaged soil, my broken roots.
July 1, 2025
I absolutely adore this book! I went in pretty blind, just expecting a fun, dark romance, but its so much more. It definitely was a lot of fun for sure, with lots of action and lots of banter...but there was a surprising amount of depth and emotion. This was dark, because of some of the subject matter, not because of the MCs. The relationship between Luka and Vincent was absolutely beautiful.
Luka is an assassin that has become obsessed with his latest target, Vincent - who is just an ordinary therapist that likes to help people and loves his plants. Its because Vincent is so 'normal' that Luka starts to question why he's been assigned to take him out in the first place, and it fuels his obsession even more. Luckily for Luka Vincent happens to have a secret craving for danger and especially dangerous men. These two fit together so perfect and their chemistry is wild from the start. The world that Luka comes from it dark and disturbing and even though hes really not a 'good' guy, you absolutely want the world for him.
Honestly, this book is half psychoanalysis of a groomed assassin and half romance and I loved it all. There is some really well done world building and the characters that we meet - you just know we will have their stories and I cannot wait. Highly recommend for any fan of dark romance, that gives some massive feels.
Dark Contemporary MM
Assassin / Therapist
Forced Proximity
Super Possessive MC
Unhinged Golden Retriever
Full Cast of Crazy Characters
Sexy Time Banter
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Luka is an assassin that has become obsessed with his latest target, Vincent - who is just an ordinary therapist that likes to help people and loves his plants. Its because Vincent is so 'normal' that Luka starts to question why he's been assigned to take him out in the first place, and it fuels his obsession even more. Luckily for Luka Vincent happens to have a secret craving for danger and especially dangerous men. These two fit together so perfect and their chemistry is wild from the start. The world that Luka comes from it dark and disturbing and even though hes really not a 'good' guy, you absolutely want the world for him.
Honestly, this book is half psychoanalysis of a groomed assassin and half romance and I loved it all. There is some really well done world building and the characters that we meet - you just know we will have their stories and I cannot wait. Highly recommend for any fan of dark romance, that gives some massive feels.
Dark Contemporary MM
Assassin / Therapist
Forced Proximity
Super Possessive MC
Unhinged Golden Retriever
Full Cast of Crazy Characters
Sexy Time Banter
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
July 10, 2025
⭐️
4.25 stars rounded down!
⭐️
My first read ever by this author and overall I loved it.
I love the concept in fiction of an assassin sent to kill someone but they just can't because there's something about the other person they can't shake, something that intrigues them and draws them in, and they defy orders for that one person, and they become their protector that will do anything to keep them alive. I'd actually love to read stories more like this one.
Luka was taken when he was 6 in war torn Bosnia, all alone after his parents were killed by Serbian soldiers and his twin sister taken by them.
The man who took him had the code name Prometheus, who absolutely grooms him, and then later so there's nothing good about this Prometheus guy, he's actually the worst.
But Luka is raised to be a killer, a weapon, a soldier, not a human being, by this assassin organization called the Pantheon. And the assassin operatives are called Ferrymen. So all of this is very Greek mythology themed.
He's killed quite a few people at this point, 47 to be exact. All he's ever known since he was so very young is violence and death and horror.
But when he's supposed to kill a man named Vincent, a seemingly innocent man, a therapist who genuinely does do good and wants to do good, and is sweet and likes to water his plants and talk to them and name them, Luka finds himself not being able to.
But there are rules, and when Luka can't kill Vincent, it's expected that soon the contract on Vincent's life will be open to all assassins in North America, and it'll be a free for all.
But Luka can't let that happen, and he saves Vincent's life despite all his training not to. There is a neutral zone as well, that he's able to take Vincent to, where they can stay while they figure out what to do, and that allows them time to really start to fall for each other too.
Vincent sees Luka as more than some killer or asset or soldier, what have you. He sees the real him, he sees a human being, and Luka hasn't experienced that since he was a young child when his family was still alive.
Vincent sees the good in Luka, sees that he's more than what he was made into, what he was groomed into being. Vincent sees all Luka has done as well and still comes to love him anyway.
I adored their chemistry and couldn't get enough of these two. The story was really interesting too, with Prometheus being the big bad villain who does all he can to kill them, to ruin them, for his own reasons that include wanting to test Luka's loyalty.
My only reason for .75 stars off was there were a few grammar mistakes here or there that could have been cleaned up, especially later in the book. Nothing too egregious, but a few mistakes here or there.
Also, the timeline on things kept being messed up or not making sense. Like we find out that something happens when Luka is 18, that . But we're also told over and over and over again that it's been 26 years since Luka was taken by Prometheus in Bosnia.
So that means Luka is now 32 - and he even says he's 32 early on in this book - so that means that event happened 14 years prior. Except later on it's said several times that it happened 18 years ago - well, that math ain't mathing!
And we later learn of , but a bit later in the book it's said that she was with him for 26 years - again, wrong!
Some might not find it a big deal but that wrong amount of time bugs me to no end. Also the opening scene takes place in 1996 so 26 years later is 2022 - which is fine, it just means this story takes place three years prior to our present day. The epilogue is 8 months later so we can say it ends in 2023, so it's all close enough, but idk if it was meant to be present time as in now or a few years back 🤷♀️ I just hope the author keeps that timeline in mind for the future books.
Others might not find it a big deal, but those mistakes with the timeline and years really bugs me, personally.
So that, along with some grammatical mistakes here and there, leads to .75 stars off for me.
Otherwise I absolutely loved this, and couldn't put it down. I wish I could have given it 5 stars, because the majority of this story was a 5 star read for me. Just little things here and there that could have been improved upon to make this story perfect.
I loved the twists and turns, I loved the development of Luka and Vincent's relationship, and I loved the love between them.
What seemed like an impossible way to get to a HEA (or heavy HFN. These two are happy and secure but plot threads in this story are left quite open ended for future books. Only reason I tagged HFN instead of HEA. The overall storyline/plot isn't complete and settled, and given Luka's position at the end of this story, he - and Vincent - will still be very much involved in the goings on of future books, even if they won't be the focus. So yeah, a very strong HFN at the end of this), was handled well, I thought.
Like how else were these two going to stay alive and get to keep living and be happy together with how things were going? With a price on their heads as it were?
I'm definitely excited to see where this goes and am looking forward to Lo's story next. He was an interesting character and I'll be excited to see about the man who will capture his heart. So I definitely recommend this story, a definite win overall and a definite great first outing for me with this author.
So, until the next one! 😘
My first read ever by this author and overall I loved it.
I love the concept in fiction of an assassin sent to kill someone but they just can't because there's something about the other person they can't shake, something that intrigues them and draws them in, and they defy orders for that one person, and they become their protector that will do anything to keep them alive. I'd actually love to read stories more like this one.
Luka was taken when he was 6 in war torn Bosnia, all alone after his parents were killed by Serbian soldiers and his twin sister taken by them.
The man who took him had the code name Prometheus, who absolutely grooms him, and then later so there's nothing good about this Prometheus guy, he's actually the worst.
But Luka is raised to be a killer, a weapon, a soldier, not a human being, by this assassin organization called the Pantheon. And the assassin operatives are called Ferrymen. So all of this is very Greek mythology themed.
He's killed quite a few people at this point, 47 to be exact. All he's ever known since he was so very young is violence and death and horror.
But when he's supposed to kill a man named Vincent, a seemingly innocent man, a therapist who genuinely does do good and wants to do good, and is sweet and likes to water his plants and talk to them and name them, Luka finds himself not being able to.
But there are rules, and when Luka can't kill Vincent, it's expected that soon the contract on Vincent's life will be open to all assassins in North America, and it'll be a free for all.
But Luka can't let that happen, and he saves Vincent's life despite all his training not to. There is a neutral zone as well, that he's able to take Vincent to, where they can stay while they figure out what to do, and that allows them time to really start to fall for each other too.
Vincent sees Luka as more than some killer or asset or soldier, what have you. He sees the real him, he sees a human being, and Luka hasn't experienced that since he was a young child when his family was still alive.
Vincent sees the good in Luka, sees that he's more than what he was made into, what he was groomed into being. Vincent sees all Luka has done as well and still comes to love him anyway.
I adored their chemistry and couldn't get enough of these two. The story was really interesting too, with Prometheus being the big bad villain who does all he can to kill them, to ruin them, for his own reasons that include wanting to test Luka's loyalty.
My only reason for .75 stars off was there were a few grammar mistakes here or there that could have been cleaned up, especially later in the book. Nothing too egregious, but a few mistakes here or there.
Also, the timeline on things kept being messed up or not making sense. Like we find out that something happens when Luka is 18, that . But we're also told over and over and over again that it's been 26 years since Luka was taken by Prometheus in Bosnia.
So that means Luka is now 32 - and he even says he's 32 early on in this book - so that means that event happened 14 years prior. Except later on it's said several times that it happened 18 years ago - well, that math ain't mathing!
And we later learn of , but a bit later in the book it's said that she was with him for 26 years - again, wrong!
Some might not find it a big deal but that wrong amount of time bugs me to no end. Also the opening scene takes place in 1996 so 26 years later is 2022 - which is fine, it just means this story takes place three years prior to our present day. The epilogue is 8 months later so we can say it ends in 2023, so it's all close enough, but idk if it was meant to be present time as in now or a few years back 🤷♀️ I just hope the author keeps that timeline in mind for the future books.
Others might not find it a big deal, but those mistakes with the timeline and years really bugs me, personally.
So that, along with some grammatical mistakes here and there, leads to .75 stars off for me.
Otherwise I absolutely loved this, and couldn't put it down. I wish I could have given it 5 stars, because the majority of this story was a 5 star read for me. Just little things here and there that could have been improved upon to make this story perfect.
I loved the twists and turns, I loved the development of Luka and Vincent's relationship, and I loved the love between them.
What seemed like an impossible way to get to a HEA (or heavy HFN. These two are happy and secure but plot threads in this story are left quite open ended for future books. Only reason I tagged HFN instead of HEA. The overall storyline/plot isn't complete and settled, and given Luka's position at the end of this story, he - and Vincent - will still be very much involved in the goings on of future books, even if they won't be the focus. So yeah, a very strong HFN at the end of this), was handled well, I thought.
Like how else were these two going to stay alive and get to keep living and be happy together with how things were going? With a price on their heads as it were?
I'm definitely excited to see where this goes and am looking forward to Lo's story next. He was an interesting character and I'll be excited to see about the man who will capture his heart. So I definitely recommend this story, a definite win overall and a definite great first outing for me with this author.
So, until the next one! 😘
July 9, 2025
3.5 ✨
This was…okay? I just didn’t really feel a spark between Vincent and Luka. I really liked Luka, but I just didn’t get the warm fuzzies from them as a couple. They were saying all the right things, but it mostly just bored me.
Also, while the plot was pretty interesting and engaging, the writing was super repetitive. Every kiss was “so different from any kiss we’ve shared before.” Literally anything Luka did was “overcoming twenty six years of conditioning.” The phrase “twenty six years” is now just on a permanent loop in my brain.
Sometimes it felt like the author wrote a chunk of text, walked away, came back, and forgot what they had written in the first place. The wording of so many things just got so repetitive, like the author forgot they had already used those phrases or didn’t care to try to vary it at all. And, at the same time, there were some inconsistencies that stood out to me. Times where something would happen that had already happened in the previous chapter, or someone was in a physical position that would be impossible based on the position they were in during the previous paragraph.
Along these same lines, it felt like there were a lot of lines that were just meant to be spooky and foreboding without any follow through. Lo told Vincent that Tartarus is so terrifying and worse than anything he’ll have ever seen before, and it was literally just empty jail cells. Am I supposed to be horrified? Luka was just standing in an empty room??
Also also, Luka and Vincent have intense sex during which Luka bites Vincent so much that he has *noticeable* bruises and bite marks all over his body. And THEN the next night, Luka tells Vincent that they’re going to have sex that’s so kinky he’ll need a safeword and it will make him forget any of the vanilla sex he’s ever had, and then they have MISSIONARY SEX. I have no problems with a simple sex scene, but do not build it up like that for no follow through!!! Why wouldn’t you say the first night with all the biting was the dark and twisty and kinky sex and then just make the second time about connection and love and softness. Make it make sense???
Anddddd I’m sorry but I just couldn’t get on board with hardcore making out at a funeral. I’m all for a jealous ex possessive vibes scene, but at a funeral?? It gave me the ick unfortunately.
Anyway, this book wasn’t terrible and it could definitely be someone’s vibe if you’re not as judgmental and picky as I am, it just didn’t really work for me.
This was…okay? I just didn’t really feel a spark between Vincent and Luka. I really liked Luka, but I just didn’t get the warm fuzzies from them as a couple. They were saying all the right things, but it mostly just bored me.
Also, while the plot was pretty interesting and engaging, the writing was super repetitive. Every kiss was “so different from any kiss we’ve shared before.” Literally anything Luka did was “overcoming twenty six years of conditioning.” The phrase “twenty six years” is now just on a permanent loop in my brain.
Sometimes it felt like the author wrote a chunk of text, walked away, came back, and forgot what they had written in the first place. The wording of so many things just got so repetitive, like the author forgot they had already used those phrases or didn’t care to try to vary it at all. And, at the same time, there were some inconsistencies that stood out to me. Times where something would happen that had already happened in the previous chapter, or someone was in a physical position that would be impossible based on the position they were in during the previous paragraph.
Along these same lines, it felt like there were a lot of lines that were just meant to be spooky and foreboding without any follow through. Lo told Vincent that Tartarus is so terrifying and worse than anything he’ll have ever seen before, and it was literally just empty jail cells. Am I supposed to be horrified? Luka was just standing in an empty room??
Also also, Luka and Vincent have intense sex during which Luka bites Vincent so much that he has *noticeable* bruises and bite marks all over his body. And THEN the next night, Luka tells Vincent that they’re going to have sex that’s so kinky he’ll need a safeword and it will make him forget any of the vanilla sex he’s ever had, and then they have MISSIONARY SEX. I have no problems with a simple sex scene, but do not build it up like that for no follow through!!! Why wouldn’t you say the first night with all the biting was the dark and twisty and kinky sex and then just make the second time about connection and love and softness. Make it make sense???
Anddddd I’m sorry but I just couldn’t get on board with hardcore making out at a funeral. I’m all for a jealous ex possessive vibes scene, but at a funeral?? It gave me the ick unfortunately.
Anyway, this book wasn’t terrible and it could definitely be someone’s vibe if you’re not as judgmental and picky as I am, it just didn’t really work for me.
July 19, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up.
An assassin falls in love with a therapist he’s supposed to kill and shit gets real complicated. An assassin organization, much like the mafia? Pretty cool. I can’t wait for Lo’s book next. Murder twink mayhem incoming!
An assassin falls in love with a therapist he’s supposed to kill and shit gets real complicated. An assassin organization, much like the mafia? Pretty cool. I can’t wait for Lo’s book next. Murder twink mayhem incoming!
July 9, 2025
I wasn't expecting to love this book this much, but I was proven wrong. Even if this book had triggering aspects, I was not ready for the amount of humor that was present. And I was also caught off guard to see Greek Gods names in here, a nice little touch. Loved Luka, Vincent and Lorenzo, they made the whole book.
Speaking of Lorenzo, I'm excited for the next book reading about him and his love interest!
Speaking of Lorenzo, I'm excited for the next book reading about him and his love interest!
November 13, 2025
The writing itself wasn’t terrible, and the beginning actually had me for a minute. But the pacing was awful. I got so bored in the middle. This wasn’t a DNF, technically, because I did finish it, but only because I skimmed everything after the 50% mark. Even the funeral chase scene was a skim. And honestly… why did Vincent have to go to that funeral at all? I know the real answer (“because plot”), but within the story it made zero sense for him to willingly stroll into an event where the odds of dying were basically 1:1.
From there, the plot went sideways, upside down, and then into orbit. Luka is ready to kill Prometheus—even though doing so will guarantee he’s exiled forever. Meanwhile someone is actively digging up dirt that will clear him if he just… waits. But no. He refuses to wait, even if it means leaving the man he loves defenseless. What kind of galaxy-brain logic is that?
It was also so repetitive. If I had to hear “26 years” one more time… One reviewer said it was mentioned 47 times, and I fact-checked on my Kindle. They weren’t lying. This is exactly why I avoid romances over 350 pages. With rare exceptions, anything longer almost always needed to be edited down to 350.
And the sex was a letdown. You’ve got a dark, perverse killer and a guy who claims he’s bored with “vanilla” because he has deeper, darker needs… and the best they muster is a blindfold. That’s the big kink? All that buildup, and the payoff is “ooo, so hot, I can’t see 🙈.”
A few random thoughts:
• How old was Vincent supposed to be? He’s described as having dark hair with gray in it—premature gray or actually older? Because it matters. If he was older, pairing that with the plant-loving, chamomile-tea-drinking, therapy-speak energy made him profoundly unsexy to me.
• Why was everyone acting like Luka’s Jacob’s ladder was a once-in-a-generation sighting? It’s uncommon, sure, but the shock level here was… dramatic.
• Also: during missionary sex, they claim the ladder on the underside is hitting Vincent’s prostate. Anatomically, no it is not. I am begging writers to understand their own logistics during physical scenes.
• Would he really recognize his six-year-old sister after 26 years? Yes, they both have light blue eyes. But they were fraternal. I found the instant recognition a stretch.
On the bright side, this book did lead me to ask ChatGPT for a crash course on the Bosnian/Bosnian Serb war, so at least I learned something.
From there, the plot went sideways, upside down, and then into orbit. Luka is ready to kill Prometheus—even though doing so will guarantee he’s exiled forever. Meanwhile someone is actively digging up dirt that will clear him if he just… waits. But no. He refuses to wait, even if it means leaving the man he loves defenseless. What kind of galaxy-brain logic is that?
It was also so repetitive. If I had to hear “26 years” one more time… One reviewer said it was mentioned 47 times, and I fact-checked on my Kindle. They weren’t lying. This is exactly why I avoid romances over 350 pages. With rare exceptions, anything longer almost always needed to be edited down to 350.
And the sex was a letdown. You’ve got a dark, perverse killer and a guy who claims he’s bored with “vanilla” because he has deeper, darker needs… and the best they muster is a blindfold. That’s the big kink? All that buildup, and the payoff is “ooo, so hot, I can’t see 🙈.”
A few random thoughts:
• How old was Vincent supposed to be? He’s described as having dark hair with gray in it—premature gray or actually older? Because it matters. If he was older, pairing that with the plant-loving, chamomile-tea-drinking, therapy-speak energy made him profoundly unsexy to me.
• Why was everyone acting like Luka’s Jacob’s ladder was a once-in-a-generation sighting? It’s uncommon, sure, but the shock level here was… dramatic.
• Also: during missionary sex, they claim the ladder on the underside is hitting Vincent’s prostate. Anatomically, no it is not. I am begging writers to understand their own logistics during physical scenes.
• Would he really recognize his six-year-old sister after 26 years? Yes, they both have light blue eyes. But they were fraternal. I found the instant recognition a stretch.
On the bright side, this book did lead me to ask ChatGPT for a crash course on the Bosnian/Bosnian Serb war, so at least I learned something.
June 21, 2025
This story was epic! I was excited for this one just from the premise but it really delivered so much more. First off the world building of the assassins cult is just outstanding, the intricate details, the nod to Greek myths, the power hierarchy and the characters within are just mind blowing. And it’s laid out perfectly, never overwhelming. The story itself is just a roller coaster of emotions, fast paced action, tons of heat and chemistry, dash of obsessive love, some real character growth and a finale worthy of an HEA. What I also loved was just the psychological navigation of characters and their dynamics, the exploration of trauma and conditioning was personally very interesting to me. All in all I was hooked from the start and could not put this one down. The detailed research that has probably gone into this book made this a spectacular read.
Luka is honestly such a complex character , we meet him as a confident cavalier predator with a Vince fixation, but peel back the layers and there is the abandoned hurting man who has been scarred over and over again.. his triumph over is conditioning was fantastic! Vince, also full of hidden layers and depth, much more than the brilliant clinical mind, finally assimilating to his darker impulses.
These two are on the run for their lives, will do anything for each other and have a mammoth organisation with unlimited power to battle - The ending was comeuppance perfection! definitely recommend checking this one out if you like your romance dark with a bit of kink and dash of violence.
I loved Lo and Jasper and Diego and the cowboy judge.. I am so excited about the books to come in this series!
Expect:
- Assassin x Psychologist
- Life and death
- K1nk
- Dark romance with death, violence and morally grey characters
- Hurt comfort
- Piercings
- Stellar world building
- Fast paced action packed
- Found family
- Forced proximity
4.5 ⭐️
June 14, 2025
If dark romance is your guilty pleasure (or let's be real—your entire personality), Ruthless is about to own your soul.
Meet Luka: sugar-fueled, emotionally stunted, and dangerously efficient at killing. Despite his deadly skills, he’s lowkey feral and weirdly lovable — especially when he’s hoarding gummy worms or threatening anyone who breathes too close to Vincent. 🍬🔪
Then there’s Vincent, the calm, grounded presence who tends to both plants and assassins with equal care. 🌿 He’s the emotional anchor, the soft space Luka didn’t know he needed, and the only one who can tame the chaos with just a look (or a watering can).
And let’s not forget our favorite little menace: Lo, the “stabbing machine” who stole every scene and probably your heart. Lo is chaos incarnate and we adore him for it. 🩸❤️
This book has everything:
✨ A chaotic, feral assassin with a gummy addiction and dark past.
✨ A mysterious plant daddy with a green thumb
✨ "Touch him and die" vibes that could power an entire city
✨ Hurt/comfort that hurts so good
✨ And a plot twist gasps
🖤🌿🩸Highly recommend for fans of morally grey chaos, healing love, and a twist that will leave your soul screaming.
**ARC REVIEW**
Meet Luka: sugar-fueled, emotionally stunted, and dangerously efficient at killing. Despite his deadly skills, he’s lowkey feral and weirdly lovable — especially when he’s hoarding gummy worms or threatening anyone who breathes too close to Vincent. 🍬🔪
Then there’s Vincent, the calm, grounded presence who tends to both plants and assassins with equal care. 🌿 He’s the emotional anchor, the soft space Luka didn’t know he needed, and the only one who can tame the chaos with just a look (or a watering can).
And let’s not forget our favorite little menace: Lo, the “stabbing machine” who stole every scene and probably your heart. Lo is chaos incarnate and we adore him for it. 🩸❤️
This book has everything:
✨ A chaotic, feral assassin with a gummy addiction and dark past.
✨ A mysterious plant daddy with a green thumb
✨ "Touch him and die" vibes that could power an entire city
✨ Hurt/comfort that hurts so good
✨ And a plot twist gasps
🖤🌿🩸Highly recommend for fans of morally grey chaos, healing love, and a twist that will leave your soul screaming.
**ARC REVIEW**
July 7, 2025
Well holy shit I was not expecting this book! I honestly don’t have words for how much I loved every single moment! I guess this is considered a dark romance? But I’m more like an action movie with the most delicious, heart breaking romance story woven in. It’s fast paced and hot as hell, it’s sweet tender love and learning to accept pieces of one’s self you’ve never let out. It was full of quiet pleads of see me, want me, choose me for who I am and not what I was made to do. It’s one man leaving behind a life he didn’t love for something scary and different and wild. I can not say enough I loved loved loved Luka and Vince, I love the political intrigue of the assassin world, and love the family of trained killers we have met and I hope to get to see more of!
December 28, 2025
I loved the plot of this HOWEVER I was disappointed in how Luka’s character developed. He was so quick with opening up to Vincent and identifying immediately when he emotionally struggled. Something that would require years of therapy to get to based on where he had started at the beginning of the book. I get why it was pushed along, but there needed to be a different way that was more in line with the character and his background. Otherwise I loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
Loved!
This story was unique. I loved it! It kept me hooked all the way. I will certainly be looking forward to continuing the series. 😀
This story was unique. I loved it! It kept me hooked all the way. I will certainly be looking forward to continuing the series. 😀
September 9, 2025
Loved the whole entire plot and the way they worked through the trauma and was able to over come it and be together.
June 19, 2025
4.25 for me.
I really enjoyed the vibes of this book with the inspiration from john wick, but the organization has a Greek mythology motif (not sure if that's an accurate way to describe it but that's what I got). I just really enjoyed the mashup. I really enjoyed the plot with the twists and turns and as this is a start of a new series, I also became invested in some of the side characters as well who were just as enjoyable as the MCs that I can't wait to get their stories next. There are already 2 that I need their stories NOW!
Now for these MCs as always, the author has a great way of writing their couples to truly be counterpoints to one another to balance them out for what they need. I will say while this book is a dual POV a lot of it is done from Luka's POV and the story is really centered around him with Vincent being along for the ride and helping and supporting Luka.
I really enjoyed Luka who was this charming kind of goofy assassin who likes gummy worms and who came up with the real housewife's drama when it came to Vincent's plants. But as the story unfolds and you learn about him and what has happened to him made me both angry and sad. But his obsession with Vincent and not giving into the order started him down a path that led to him starting to heal and ending in a place he never thought was possible and I was just cheering him on all the way. And that was due to Vincent's training as a therapist and his experience with Cult survivors. He was able to support Luka and claw back his life and really stuck by his side which is all Luka wanted. Is someone who would stay and fight for him even though he saw himself as a monster undeserving of love. I think my favorite scene though was essentially his goodbye scene bc the way Luka opened himself up and claimed his past and shared that with Vincent was really touching that had me tearing up.
Overall, I really enjoyed the plot and inspirations used to build this world and I am so excited to explore it more and the characters that inhabit it. I loved the two MCs as well and they had not just emotional chemistry but spicy chemistry as well that I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait to find out what happens next.
This book is about Luka who is an assassin who with 48 confirmed eliminations under his belt should have been able to carry out his current mission no problem. But what he didn't expect was to fall for the plant obsessed therapist that has left him "stalking" his target for a couple and not completing his contract. Something that has never happened with him as he is the best in the business. Well, his handlers are tired of waiting and now the contract has gone out to anyone with a gun and other members in his organization are now coming not just for his therapist for him as well. So, the best thing he can do for both of them is to kidnap Vincent his target and taking to one of the few safe cities for those in his field while they figure out their next move. But that next move looks like it will have him confronting the man who spent the last 26 years molding Luka into the perfect weapon. His mentor is Prometheus, and he was not just his mentor, but he is also a director in the organization with more power at his disposal that going against him is fool's mission. But for the man who has captured Luka's heart and saw him for the man he is and not the weapon he was made into he will take on any of the gods to keep him safe even if it costs him, is life.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the vibes of this book with the inspiration from john wick, but the organization has a Greek mythology motif (not sure if that's an accurate way to describe it but that's what I got). I just really enjoyed the mashup. I really enjoyed the plot with the twists and turns and as this is a start of a new series, I also became invested in some of the side characters as well who were just as enjoyable as the MCs that I can't wait to get their stories next. There are already 2 that I need their stories NOW!
Now for these MCs as always, the author has a great way of writing their couples to truly be counterpoints to one another to balance them out for what they need. I will say while this book is a dual POV a lot of it is done from Luka's POV and the story is really centered around him with Vincent being along for the ride and helping and supporting Luka.
I really enjoyed Luka who was this charming kind of goofy assassin who likes gummy worms and who came up with the real housewife's drama when it came to Vincent's plants. But as the story unfolds and you learn about him and what has happened to him made me both angry and sad. But his obsession with Vincent and not giving into the order started him down a path that led to him starting to heal and ending in a place he never thought was possible and I was just cheering him on all the way. And that was due to Vincent's training as a therapist and his experience with Cult survivors. He was able to support Luka and claw back his life and really stuck by his side which is all Luka wanted. Is someone who would stay and fight for him even though he saw himself as a monster undeserving of love. I think my favorite scene though was essentially his goodbye scene bc the way Luka opened himself up and claimed his past and shared that with Vincent was really touching that had me tearing up.
Overall, I really enjoyed the plot and inspirations used to build this world and I am so excited to explore it more and the characters that inhabit it. I loved the two MCs as well and they had not just emotional chemistry but spicy chemistry as well that I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait to find out what happens next.
This book is about Luka who is an assassin who with 48 confirmed eliminations under his belt should have been able to carry out his current mission no problem. But what he didn't expect was to fall for the plant obsessed therapist that has left him "stalking" his target for a couple and not completing his contract. Something that has never happened with him as he is the best in the business. Well, his handlers are tired of waiting and now the contract has gone out to anyone with a gun and other members in his organization are now coming not just for his therapist for him as well. So, the best thing he can do for both of them is to kidnap Vincent his target and taking to one of the few safe cities for those in his field while they figure out their next move. But that next move looks like it will have him confronting the man who spent the last 26 years molding Luka into the perfect weapon. His mentor is Prometheus, and he was not just his mentor, but he is also a director in the organization with more power at his disposal that going against him is fool's mission. But for the man who has captured Luka's heart and saw him for the man he is and not the weapon he was made into he will take on any of the gods to keep him safe even if it costs him, is life.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2025
ok quality-wise this was probably more a 2.5-3 star but I had a 4-5 star time reading it so do with that what you will
thoughts n feelings:
-the writing was wildly repetitive in a very weird way. like the author would use the same exact phrases verbatim within the same page, or the characters would say the same dialogue repeatedly (but not in like, a natural way that you might repeat yourself). it didn't ruin the experience necessarily but it was distracting and redundant.
-additionally, the writing itself was not edited enough and was very inconsistent. I'm talkin like switching up the pronouns for a character after they were introduced with different pronouns, forgetting what positions the characters were in and then writing them getting INto those positions (i.e, saying he rolled onto his back when he's already on his back).
-the therapy-speak got old REAL fucking quick. like i appreciated how well-researched this clearly was, but it just didn't feel very natural when Vincent was talking about it. like it made sense for him to use therapy-speak in his own head, but saying it out loud kinda just made me roll my eyes. idk maybe there are therapists that talk like that, but I think realistically it would just piss off their friends and family.
-the chemistry was golden and I loved the characters SO much
-the final showdown was bomb as hell and the reveal after the Tribunal DID get me
-as elaborate as the world-building was, I don't think there was enough information about how the Ferrymen actually work? like once the new director takes over he's wanting to implement all these reforms that are more humane but at the end of the day you're still training assassins? like are the targets somehow only people who "deserve it"? where do the contracts come from? I just don't really GET it so it's hard to support where the story goes at the end. but the worldbuilding itself was gorgeous and I really loved it, I just wanted more of the infrastructure detailed personally
-the banter/dialogue, while usually funny or effective, often edged into the cringe
-Vincent went on and on about his "dark desires" but when it came time to actually do the sex it was actually remarkably vanilla? like yeah he gives him some hickies and blindfolds him and calls him a good boy and there's a safeword utilized but like...........idk he just talked a big game
TLDR: despite my qualms, overall it was a great time and I was DEVASTATED to discover the next book doesn't come out til December 31st (happy new year to me) and i WILL be reading this author's backlist soooooooo
thoughts n feelings:
-the writing was wildly repetitive in a very weird way. like the author would use the same exact phrases verbatim within the same page, or the characters would say the same dialogue repeatedly (but not in like, a natural way that you might repeat yourself). it didn't ruin the experience necessarily but it was distracting and redundant.
-additionally, the writing itself was not edited enough and was very inconsistent. I'm talkin like switching up the pronouns for a character after they were introduced with different pronouns, forgetting what positions the characters were in and then writing them getting INto those positions (i.e, saying he rolled onto his back when he's already on his back).
-the therapy-speak got old REAL fucking quick. like i appreciated how well-researched this clearly was, but it just didn't feel very natural when Vincent was talking about it. like it made sense for him to use therapy-speak in his own head, but saying it out loud kinda just made me roll my eyes. idk maybe there are therapists that talk like that, but I think realistically it would just piss off their friends and family.
-the chemistry was golden and I loved the characters SO much
-the final showdown was bomb as hell and the reveal after the Tribunal DID get me
-as elaborate as the world-building was, I don't think there was enough information about how the Ferrymen actually work? like once the new director takes over he's wanting to implement all these reforms that are more humane but at the end of the day you're still training assassins? like are the targets somehow only people who "deserve it"? where do the contracts come from? I just don't really GET it so it's hard to support where the story goes at the end. but the worldbuilding itself was gorgeous and I really loved it, I just wanted more of the infrastructure detailed personally
-the banter/dialogue, while usually funny or effective, often edged into the cringe
-Vincent went on and on about his "dark desires" but when it came time to actually do the sex it was actually remarkably vanilla? like yeah he gives him some hickies and blindfolds him and calls him a good boy and there's a safeword utilized but like...........idk he just talked a big game
TLDR: despite my qualms, overall it was a great time and I was DEVASTATED to discover the next book doesn't come out til December 31st (happy new year to me) and i WILL be reading this author's backlist soooooooo
November 9, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ruthless — L. Eveland
ARC received — thank you!
L. Eveland stays winning. Every. Single. Time.
And Ruthless might be one of my favorite “dangerous man learns softness and would burn the world for one person” books I’ve read in a long time.
This story grabbed me by the throat on page one and did not let go.
Luka is devastating — lethal, conditioned, shaped into a perfect blade with no room for softness, and yet he falls for a therapist who talks to his houseplants and has no idea what to do with a man who could kill a room full of people but melts when someone cares about him.
I am weak for that contrast every time.
Vincent… oh, Vincent.
Kind, calm, grounded, and carrying his own scars — not physical like Luka, but emotional and just as deep. He should run. Anyone else would. Instead, he opens the door and chooses him again and again, and that choice hits hard.
We get:
⚔️ Assassin x Therapist (my new kink apparently)
🔥 Forced proximity on the run
😈 Unhinged golden retriever assassin energy (YES)
🖤 Damage + devotion + “I would kill for you” loyalty
💞 Care, touch, trust, and emotional reclamation
🏚️ Secret assassin society / deadly cat-and-mouse chase
✨ Found family of absolute lunatics and I loved all of them
What I love about L. Eveland’s writing is how they handle darkness:
It’s sharp, violent, obsessive — but always anchored by emotion. It’s not just blood and vengeance; it’s pain, identity, intimacy, and choosing softness even when brutality built you.
There are moments where Luka is terrifying — and moments where he is so vulnerable it hurts to breathe. Vincent doesn’t “fix” him; he sees him. He offers stability, not sanctification. And Luka — this weapon who was never supposed to feel anything — learns what it means to treasure someone.
Their chemistry? Electric. Their banter? Perfection. The possessiveness? Beautifully unhinged.
And the way Vincent stays steady while Luka unspools everything he thought he was? I ATE IT UP.
This is dark romance done right:
violent, tender, twisted, healing, messy, loving, and absolutely addictive.
If you love:
✔️ morally black killers with puppy devotion
✔️ gentle men who hold monsters like they deserve softness
✔️ found family chaos gremlin assassins
✔️ high tension + blood + banter + heart
✔️ romance that chooses instead of redeems
Then Ruthless belongs on your shelf immediately.
I cannot wait to continue this series — if the rest of the Ferrymen are even half as unhinged and lovable as Luka, I’m ruined in the best way.
Ruthless — L. Eveland
ARC received — thank you!
L. Eveland stays winning. Every. Single. Time.
And Ruthless might be one of my favorite “dangerous man learns softness and would burn the world for one person” books I’ve read in a long time.
This story grabbed me by the throat on page one and did not let go.
Luka is devastating — lethal, conditioned, shaped into a perfect blade with no room for softness, and yet he falls for a therapist who talks to his houseplants and has no idea what to do with a man who could kill a room full of people but melts when someone cares about him.
I am weak for that contrast every time.
Vincent… oh, Vincent.
Kind, calm, grounded, and carrying his own scars — not physical like Luka, but emotional and just as deep. He should run. Anyone else would. Instead, he opens the door and chooses him again and again, and that choice hits hard.
We get:
⚔️ Assassin x Therapist (my new kink apparently)
🔥 Forced proximity on the run
😈 Unhinged golden retriever assassin energy (YES)
🖤 Damage + devotion + “I would kill for you” loyalty
💞 Care, touch, trust, and emotional reclamation
🏚️ Secret assassin society / deadly cat-and-mouse chase
✨ Found family of absolute lunatics and I loved all of them
What I love about L. Eveland’s writing is how they handle darkness:
It’s sharp, violent, obsessive — but always anchored by emotion. It’s not just blood and vengeance; it’s pain, identity, intimacy, and choosing softness even when brutality built you.
There are moments where Luka is terrifying — and moments where he is so vulnerable it hurts to breathe. Vincent doesn’t “fix” him; he sees him. He offers stability, not sanctification. And Luka — this weapon who was never supposed to feel anything — learns what it means to treasure someone.
Their chemistry? Electric. Their banter? Perfection. The possessiveness? Beautifully unhinged.
And the way Vincent stays steady while Luka unspools everything he thought he was? I ATE IT UP.
This is dark romance done right:
violent, tender, twisted, healing, messy, loving, and absolutely addictive.
If you love:
✔️ morally black killers with puppy devotion
✔️ gentle men who hold monsters like they deserve softness
✔️ found family chaos gremlin assassins
✔️ high tension + blood + banter + heart
✔️ romance that chooses instead of redeems
Then Ruthless belongs on your shelf immediately.
I cannot wait to continue this series — if the rest of the Ferrymen are even half as unhinged and lovable as Luka, I’m ruined in the best way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
I’m still trying to recover from this book and I’m not sure I want to.
Ruthless by L. Eveland is one of the most gripping, darkly tender, and emotionally violent MM romances I’ve ever read. I picked it up thinking I’d get a fast-paced assassin story with some romantic tension. What I got was a deeply layered, emotionally wrecking journey of healing, survival, and the kind of love that demands everything from you.
Luka is a contract killer—efficient, brutal, trained to be unfeeling. But when he’s assigned to kill Vincent, a quiet, gentle therapist who tends to his plants and lives a life of peace, everything fractures. Instead of completing the hit, Luka spares him. Protects him. And just like that, both their lives are ripped wide open.
Vincent… oh my god, Vincent. I loved him so much. He’s not weak—he’s strong in all the quiet ways that Luka never knew existed. His patience, his persistence, his ability to see Luka when Luka has spent his whole life being invisible or feared—it broke me. Their connection starts from a place of fear and control, but what it grows into is so intimate, so raw, I felt every heartbeat of it.
Yes, this book is dark. There’s trauma. Violence. Pain. Luka is haunted by his past, and his journey toward reclaiming his autonomy (especially when facing Prometheus) is honestly one of the most powerful things I’ve read in a long time. And Vincent doesn’t just stand by—he fights for Luka too, in his own way.
And let’s talk about the chemistry. The tension. The soft moments layered between gunfire and betrayal. The way Luka gradually lets his guard down around Vincent is such a slow, earned burn. It’s not easy. It’s not clean. But it’s real.
By the end, I was sobbing. Not just because of what they’d been through, but because of how much I cared. Their love isn’t sweet. It’s feral. And I adored every second of it.
If you love dark MM romance with complex characters, found family vibes, psychological depth, and a beautifully broken assassin falling helplessly in love with a quiet man who refuses to give up on him—please read this book.
I’ll be thinking about Luka and Vincent for a long time.
And yes, I already need a sequel.
Ruthless by L. Eveland is one of the most gripping, darkly tender, and emotionally violent MM romances I’ve ever read. I picked it up thinking I’d get a fast-paced assassin story with some romantic tension. What I got was a deeply layered, emotionally wrecking journey of healing, survival, and the kind of love that demands everything from you.
Luka is a contract killer—efficient, brutal, trained to be unfeeling. But when he’s assigned to kill Vincent, a quiet, gentle therapist who tends to his plants and lives a life of peace, everything fractures. Instead of completing the hit, Luka spares him. Protects him. And just like that, both their lives are ripped wide open.
Vincent… oh my god, Vincent. I loved him so much. He’s not weak—he’s strong in all the quiet ways that Luka never knew existed. His patience, his persistence, his ability to see Luka when Luka has spent his whole life being invisible or feared—it broke me. Their connection starts from a place of fear and control, but what it grows into is so intimate, so raw, I felt every heartbeat of it.
Yes, this book is dark. There’s trauma. Violence. Pain. Luka is haunted by his past, and his journey toward reclaiming his autonomy (especially when facing Prometheus) is honestly one of the most powerful things I’ve read in a long time. And Vincent doesn’t just stand by—he fights for Luka too, in his own way.
And let’s talk about the chemistry. The tension. The soft moments layered between gunfire and betrayal. The way Luka gradually lets his guard down around Vincent is such a slow, earned burn. It’s not easy. It’s not clean. But it’s real.
By the end, I was sobbing. Not just because of what they’d been through, but because of how much I cared. Their love isn’t sweet. It’s feral. And I adored every second of it.
If you love dark MM romance with complex characters, found family vibes, psychological depth, and a beautifully broken assassin falling helplessly in love with a quiet man who refuses to give up on him—please read this book.
I’ll be thinking about Luka and Vincent for a long time.
And yes, I already need a sequel.
July 11, 2025
4.25 stars - This is the story about a secret society of assassins. Sounds simple, but it is anything but. The story begins introducing us to Luka as a child which gives some background as to how he became the assassin he is today. We get the beginning and glimpses into the upbringing, but the story really starts present day. Luka has been given an assignment to take out Vincent. It is this assignment that changes everything for Luka.
Vincent is a therapist, seemingly an innocent. And, as Luka stakes him out, an assignment that should have been cut and dry and over with lickity split with Luka collecting another token, things are set in motion when things don’t seem to be adding up and Luka sees something in Vincent that he has been missing in his life. This all leads to Luka questioning other things.
As Luka is being pressured from above, things heat up and Luka is forced to act. Their forced proximity and danger result in some major chemistry and ensuing relationship. But they must survive long enough for that to happen.
This is an interesting world with a “secret” society existing alongside, or underneath, our own. There are levels and structure with strict rules and requirements. Luka has made a choice to go against his training and has, in turn, become a liability. They have a few friends that help them out, which I loved, and can’t wait to see more of. You definitely have to suspend your beliefs to enjoy this one, but I found it entertaining and interesting. I enjoyed how things turned out here, and while there are still a number of questions, it ends in a decent place for our couple. I am eager to continue the story and see how Lo makes out and hope we don’t have to wait too long to find out.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
June 14, 2025
I'm always unsure about starting a dark romance because frankly, a lot of times it's synonymous with an abusive MMC. So color me surprised that I ended up head over heels in love with both a gummy worm addicted, brainwashed assassin and his soft-hearted, plant daddy love.
As always with dark romances, I recommend to check the trigger warnings and protect your mental health. But you'll be happy to know that at no point did Luka or Vincent give any real red flags in the relationship. I mean, Luka was stalking Vincent through the scope of his rifle, but that's basically true love in the dark romance realm.
The dynamic between Vincent and Luka was just so good. They had fantastic banter. Their communication, while not perfect all the time (who's is?) was done really well. They had very distinct personalities that worked with each other.
The overarching plot in this book had me on edge. It's very inspired by John Wick. The resemblance is uncanny. But there were times that I was viscerally taken aback at what was happening. I can't say that anything really surprised me, but some of the things that happened, while knowing that aspects would come into play, still felt like enough of a twist to keep everything very interesting.
My only really gripe with the book was at times the dialogue felt a little clunky and the jokes didn't land well. And the character Lo was written really stereotypical, hyperfeminine gay. And it felt so forced at times.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It kept me turning the page in one sitting. And I really am excited to see how Lo's story shakes out next.
Thank you to L. Eveland for the ARC.
As always with dark romances, I recommend to check the trigger warnings and protect your mental health. But you'll be happy to know that at no point did Luka or Vincent give any real red flags in the relationship. I mean, Luka was stalking Vincent through the scope of his rifle, but that's basically true love in the dark romance realm.
The dynamic between Vincent and Luka was just so good. They had fantastic banter. Their communication, while not perfect all the time (who's is?) was done really well. They had very distinct personalities that worked with each other.
The overarching plot in this book had me on edge. It's very inspired by John Wick. The resemblance is uncanny. But there were times that I was viscerally taken aback at what was happening. I can't say that anything really surprised me, but some of the things that happened, while knowing that aspects would come into play, still felt like enough of a twist to keep everything very interesting.
My only really gripe with the book was at times the dialogue felt a little clunky and the jokes didn't land well. And the character Lo was written really stereotypical, hyperfeminine gay. And it felt so forced at times.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It kept me turning the page in one sitting. And I really am excited to see how Lo's story shakes out next.
Thank you to L. Eveland for the ARC.
June 28, 2025
Luka, a young Bosnian boy, was orphaned at just six years old when his parents were brutally murdered and his sister taken by Serbian soldiers. Alone and with nothing left to lose, he was taken in by an American man who trained him to be a weapon—a cold, efficient killer. Eventually, Luka becomes part of a secret society of assassins, where his skills make him one of the deadliest.
Vincent is supposed to be just another target. A job. Simple. But something about the sexy psychologist—his gentle warmth, genuine care for his patients, and tender love for his houseplants—shakes Luka to his core. For the first time, Luka hesitates.
Vincent sees beyond the killer. He’s the first to make Luka feel like he could be more than a machine, slowly unraveling the years of ruthless conditioning and showing him he’s still human—still worthy of love.
What follows is an intense, beautifully woven love story laced with action, suspense, and a gripping mystery. I devoured this book in 24 hours—I simply had to know what happened next.
The spice? Absolutely delicious. The character development? Chef’s kiss. And the banter? Downright hilarious—Luka and Vincent’s back-and-forth had me laughing out loud more than once.
I can’t recommend this book enough. And now I’m counting down the days until I can get my hands on Lo’s story.
⚠️ A quick note: this book delves into some very dark themes, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Vibes:
• Assassin and target
• Kidnapping
• Organized crime
• Trauma
• Pierced MC
• Forced proximity
• One bed
• Touch him and ☠️
• Morally grey
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Spice: 3🌶
Vincent is supposed to be just another target. A job. Simple. But something about the sexy psychologist—his gentle warmth, genuine care for his patients, and tender love for his houseplants—shakes Luka to his core. For the first time, Luka hesitates.
Vincent sees beyond the killer. He’s the first to make Luka feel like he could be more than a machine, slowly unraveling the years of ruthless conditioning and showing him he’s still human—still worthy of love.
What follows is an intense, beautifully woven love story laced with action, suspense, and a gripping mystery. I devoured this book in 24 hours—I simply had to know what happened next.
The spice? Absolutely delicious. The character development? Chef’s kiss. And the banter? Downright hilarious—Luka and Vincent’s back-and-forth had me laughing out loud more than once.
I can’t recommend this book enough. And now I’m counting down the days until I can get my hands on Lo’s story.
⚠️ A quick note: this book delves into some very dark themes, so definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Vibes:
• Assassin and target
• Kidnapping
• Organized crime
• Trauma
• Pierced MC
• Forced proximity
• One bed
• Touch him and ☠️
• Morally grey
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Spice: 3🌶
June 22, 2025
Advanced Reader Copy
🌶🌶🌶.5
If L. Eveland got together with John wick their love child would be this book 🖤 So that being said this is a Dark Romance so check your TWs before going in.
Luka was found at the age of 6 and molded into an elite assassin. He is part of the Ferrymen where every "removal" of a target gets you a coin that's worth more then normal money. Our man Luka here has 32 of those coins. His next target is Vincent a therapist who specializes in deprogramming cult survivors. So why is Vincent on this hit list...that's a fantastic question that Luka wants the answer too. Vincent besides being a therapist is a certified plant daddy who minds his business so something isn't adding up, but in Luka's world you don't ask questions. Luka goes to get his own Intel and act as a new patient of Vincent's and what he finds is a man who can see through his cracks and masks straight down to the broken boy hiding away, which no one has been able to do before. Luka goes against it all and flips script, instead of "deleting" Vincent he swears to protect him and find out who wants him gone.
This was a twisty turny ride that I was glued to from page one. The minute Luka made a soap opera for the plants and gummy worms I knew he was going to be one of my favorite characters 😍 I loved every minute of this and cannot wait for the rest of these guys Lo and Mr. Cowboy Judge, and Maybe Diego and Jasper! I can already tell no matter where we go this is going to be an awesome series.
🌶🌶🌶.5
If L. Eveland got together with John wick their love child would be this book 🖤 So that being said this is a Dark Romance so check your TWs before going in.
Luka was found at the age of 6 and molded into an elite assassin. He is part of the Ferrymen where every "removal" of a target gets you a coin that's worth more then normal money. Our man Luka here has 32 of those coins. His next target is Vincent a therapist who specializes in deprogramming cult survivors. So why is Vincent on this hit list...that's a fantastic question that Luka wants the answer too. Vincent besides being a therapist is a certified plant daddy who minds his business so something isn't adding up, but in Luka's world you don't ask questions. Luka goes to get his own Intel and act as a new patient of Vincent's and what he finds is a man who can see through his cracks and masks straight down to the broken boy hiding away, which no one has been able to do before. Luka goes against it all and flips script, instead of "deleting" Vincent he swears to protect him and find out who wants him gone.
This was a twisty turny ride that I was glued to from page one. The minute Luka made a soap opera for the plants and gummy worms I knew he was going to be one of my favorite characters 😍 I loved every minute of this and cannot wait for the rest of these guys Lo and Mr. Cowboy Judge, and Maybe Diego and Jasper! I can already tell no matter where we go this is going to be an awesome series.
June 28, 2025
When I first started this I wasn't sure how Luka and Vincent's story was going to work, but as I kept reading I eventually got completely pulled into this world full of danger. Vincent and Luka are from two different worlds, Vincent is used to helping his clients work through their trauma and help them find coping mechanisms, Luka is used to un-aliving people without question. They are quite literally opposites but they fit so nearly together. Despite the circumstances that brought them together, I loved seeing them flourish with one another.
The character growth that occured with Luka, Vincent, and Ana throughout the course of this story was absolutely incredible! I absolutely loved seeing these characters grow and evolve, being able to read about Luka unlearning all of the awful conditioning he was put through was such a prolific moment. Another moment that was really beautiful was when Vincent helped Luka realize he is worthy of love and that he deserves to be happy.
The writing was exceptional and the action scenes were so detailed it was almost breathtaking in a way... It was as if I was watching a dark action movie but instead I was reading a really amazing dark romance book. I really enjoyed reading about Luka and Vincent and I am so excited to see this series continue. I am particularly looking forward to learning more about a certain murderous fashionista who has a soft spot for his (bestie) Luka.
The character growth that occured with Luka, Vincent, and Ana throughout the course of this story was absolutely incredible! I absolutely loved seeing these characters grow and evolve, being able to read about Luka unlearning all of the awful conditioning he was put through was such a prolific moment. Another moment that was really beautiful was when Vincent helped Luka realize he is worthy of love and that he deserves to be happy.
The writing was exceptional and the action scenes were so detailed it was almost breathtaking in a way... It was as if I was watching a dark action movie but instead I was reading a really amazing dark romance book. I really enjoyed reading about Luka and Vincent and I am so excited to see this series continue. I am particularly looking forward to learning more about a certain murderous fashionista who has a soft spot for his (bestie) Luka.
July 31, 2025
Dnf 57%
I first thought of stopping at 43% but thought it would get better with time.
The book started okay but became bad really fast. As soon as the discount John wick plot started I began to check out. The coins, the safe space for assassins, the concierge that warned him cryptically. Oh please how many more rip offs do you want to use?
Then the therapist stuff. It became so fucking annoying I wanted to scratch my eyes out everyone Vince started again. It was like a loop. Luka begins to whine about something, Vince starts his therapist stuff. Also the therapists name is Vincent Matthews. I felt like it should have been Matthew Vince. Don’t know why but the name just sounded wrong.
Then also a personal pet peeve. The complete lack of pet names. I felt like one of them should have thrown a baby or sweetheart in at times.
Now the worst part. The sex scenes. I expected good ones. For all the talk about how Vince wasn’t satisfied with his old partners because they weren’t rough enough and how Luka will destroy him and he held back before and what not. What happened was Luka talks a big game and then they have pretty normal sex. Luke what only because you’re using a blindfold it is somehow special. Please. Boring af. That’s why I stopped reading after the second sex scene. I knew it would get better.
Didn’t like it. Expected more. Will not read anything more in this series. Not recommended. You will waste your time.
I first thought of stopping at 43% but thought it would get better with time.
The book started okay but became bad really fast. As soon as the discount John wick plot started I began to check out. The coins, the safe space for assassins, the concierge that warned him cryptically. Oh please how many more rip offs do you want to use?
Then the therapist stuff. It became so fucking annoying I wanted to scratch my eyes out everyone Vince started again. It was like a loop. Luka begins to whine about something, Vince starts his therapist stuff. Also the therapists name is Vincent Matthews. I felt like it should have been Matthew Vince. Don’t know why but the name just sounded wrong.
Then also a personal pet peeve. The complete lack of pet names. I felt like one of them should have thrown a baby or sweetheart in at times.
Now the worst part. The sex scenes. I expected good ones. For all the talk about how Vince wasn’t satisfied with his old partners because they weren’t rough enough and how Luka will destroy him and he held back before and what not. What happened was Luka talks a big game and then they have pretty normal sex. Luke what only because you’re using a blindfold it is somehow special. Please. Boring af. That’s why I stopped reading after the second sex scene. I knew it would get better.
Didn’t like it. Expected more. Will not read anything more in this series. Not recommended. You will waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Okay, so it was hard for me to pick a rating. I absolutely loved the premise of the storyline with the therapist and the assassin. I love a good traumatic back story and the healing of that, which this totally has. Luka and Vincent were both great characters. I love that Luka just loved gummy worms and used them to tell a story about Vincent's plants, it gave him depth. There were some super funny moments in this book, which is great to break up the heavy and create a relatable quality to the characters. The Greek mythology aspect and the fact that its a secret society kind of thing was interesting!
I felt like it got very repetitive at times, I understand that Luka has been in this life for 26 years, that he is 32 and has 48 kills, I didn't need to be told 8 million times. I felt like it talked more about the badass that Luka was rather than actually showing it by repeating it so many times.
I would have liked to have more development between the characters, actually getting to know each other a little bit outside of the bedroom. Especially Vince, I really don't know if we know ANYTHING about him other than he is a therapist and a plant lover, and that's pretty much it.
Honestly, it was a good story, and while there are plot holes that im assuming will be touched on in future books in the series, I am glad Luka, sweet sweet Luka, got his happy ending with someone who didnt once give up on him. The boys deserve it.
Thank you for the ARC of this book! I will be picking up the next in the series! I hope to learn more about Lo. It's gotta be his story next! He was a fun side character and very loyal!
I felt like it got very repetitive at times, I understand that Luka has been in this life for 26 years, that he is 32 and has 48 kills, I didn't need to be told 8 million times. I felt like it talked more about the badass that Luka was rather than actually showing it by repeating it so many times.
I would have liked to have more development between the characters, actually getting to know each other a little bit outside of the bedroom. Especially Vince, I really don't know if we know ANYTHING about him other than he is a therapist and a plant lover, and that's pretty much it.
Honestly, it was a good story, and while there are plot holes that im assuming will be touched on in future books in the series, I am glad Luka, sweet sweet Luka, got his happy ending with someone who didnt once give up on him. The boys deserve it.
Thank you for the ARC of this book! I will be picking up the next in the series! I hope to learn more about Lo. It's gotta be his story next! He was a fun side character and very loyal!
August 3, 2025
Ruthless by L. Eveland was an unexpected gem. I went in thinking I was getting a dark, steamy romance with a splash of chaos, and ended up with a story that was sharp, layered, and surprisingly emotional.
Luka is an assassin with serious golden-retriever-in-murder-mode energy. When he’s sent to kill Vincent, a sweet, plant-loving therapist, he quickly realises something doesn’t add up… and instead of finishing the job, he gets obsessed. The twist? Vincent might just be a little obsessed right back. He’s not as innocent as he seems, and he definitely has a thing for dangerous men.
Their chemistry? Unhinged. Possessive. Banter-filled. But there’s also a deep undercurrent of healing and emotional growth, especially as we start peeling back Luka’s trauma and conditioning. It’s part slow-burn, part fast-paced action, all wrapped up in a world of assassin cults, Greek mythology-inspired structure, and found family mayhem.
This is for you if you like:
- MM romance with dark, gritty vibes
- Assassin x therapist dynamic
- Forced proximity and on-the-run chaos
- Unhinged, obsessive love (with a heart)
- Deep psychological layers
- A cast of side characters you’ll need books for
Dark. Sexy. Twisted. Emotional.
Highly recommend. Bring on the murder twinks.
Luka is an assassin with serious golden-retriever-in-murder-mode energy. When he’s sent to kill Vincent, a sweet, plant-loving therapist, he quickly realises something doesn’t add up… and instead of finishing the job, he gets obsessed. The twist? Vincent might just be a little obsessed right back. He’s not as innocent as he seems, and he definitely has a thing for dangerous men.
Their chemistry? Unhinged. Possessive. Banter-filled. But there’s also a deep undercurrent of healing and emotional growth, especially as we start peeling back Luka’s trauma and conditioning. It’s part slow-burn, part fast-paced action, all wrapped up in a world of assassin cults, Greek mythology-inspired structure, and found family mayhem.
This is for you if you like:
- MM romance with dark, gritty vibes
- Assassin x therapist dynamic
- Forced proximity and on-the-run chaos
- Unhinged, obsessive love (with a heart)
- Deep psychological layers
- A cast of side characters you’ll need books for
Dark. Sexy. Twisted. Emotional.
Highly recommend. Bring on the murder twinks.
June 13, 2025
Im peeved I can ONLY give 5 ☆.
100% would have given much more.
Ok, my review.
I freaking loved it. Beyond loved it.
This book gave me such John Wick vibes from the start. The bit at the end from the author acknowledging it just "chefs kiss".
I loved that Luka FINALLY had someone stand up and fight for him... the person, not the tool, the weapon, the asset, but the living breathing person. Vincent being the target... bet Prometheus really regretted that choice...
The Ana part of the story nearly broke me, what the twins were put through was disgusting, and defo needed pulled out for the Pantheon to see.
As for Vincent, I hated seeing him dismiss his wants, that it was too much for others. That he even sought therapy for it.... he should have know better. I loved his instant trust in Luka, even when he recognised something dangerous, he knew that Luka was there and would protect him, even if Luka doubted it himself. Vincent used his skills to help not hinder Luka, making him better, smarter and stronger than anyone expected.
100% would have given much more.
Ok, my review.
I freaking loved it. Beyond loved it.
This book gave me such John Wick vibes from the start. The bit at the end from the author acknowledging it just "chefs kiss".
I loved that Luka FINALLY had someone stand up and fight for him... the person, not the tool, the weapon, the asset, but the living breathing person. Vincent being the target... bet Prometheus really regretted that choice...
The Ana part of the story nearly broke me, what the twins were put through was disgusting, and defo needed pulled out for the Pantheon to see.
As for Vincent, I hated seeing him dismiss his wants, that it was too much for others. That he even sought therapy for it.... he should have know better. I loved his instant trust in Luka, even when he recognised something dangerous, he knew that Luka was there and would protect him, even if Luka doubted it himself. Vincent used his skills to help not hinder Luka, making him better, smarter and stronger than anyone expected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
feelings: 😭😱🥵☠️😍🫠😡🥹
L Eveland has once again created a new world. Ruthless is volume 1 of the The Ferrymen series.
The Ferrymen are a group of assassins who operate worldwide. Embedded in a strict structure, everyone has a clear task. All the names of the upper elite come from Greek mythology.
Luka was rescued as a small child from the ruins of a small Bosnian village and turned into a perfect weapon. His latest assignment is to eliminate the psychologist Dr. Vincent Matthews.
But the doctor awakens previously unknown feelings in Luka, who refuses to carry out the assignment and flees with Vincent. What follows is a fulminant hunt for survival and a deeply touching love story.
Ruthless is a pitch-black story that deals with the extreme abysses of humanity. The new world is fascinating and the characters captivating. Luka and Vincent have dug deep into my heart and the secondary characters are complex and at times compelling. I'm really looking forward to Lo’s book!
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
feelings: 😭😱🥵☠️😍🫠😡🥹
L Eveland has once again created a new world. Ruthless is volume 1 of the The Ferrymen series.
The Ferrymen are a group of assassins who operate worldwide. Embedded in a strict structure, everyone has a clear task. All the names of the upper elite come from Greek mythology.
Luka was rescued as a small child from the ruins of a small Bosnian village and turned into a perfect weapon. His latest assignment is to eliminate the psychologist Dr. Vincent Matthews.
But the doctor awakens previously unknown feelings in Luka, who refuses to carry out the assignment and flees with Vincent. What follows is a fulminant hunt for survival and a deeply touching love story.
Ruthless is a pitch-black story that deals with the extreme abysses of humanity. The new world is fascinating and the characters captivating. Luka and Vincent have dug deep into my heart and the secondary characters are complex and at times compelling. I'm really looking forward to Lo’s book!
June 26, 2025
If your into the morally grey falls for the sweet well put together guy, this is the dark romance for you . This is an MM between Luka a professional assassin with a gummy worm addiction, and Vincent a plant loving therapist.
I found myself loving Luka from the start. Luka has a very dark past and finds himself involved with an assassins cult, a secret weapon of sorts. His twisted journey leads him to his next target, Vincent . What Luka didn’t see coming was that through all the plant drama reenacting using gummy worms he would fall for Vincent .
I enjoyed the world building , it was an interesting set up. The one thing I wish we got more of was character development for Vincent. Aside of knowing he is a therapist and loves his plants I felt like we needed a bit more on him , something to help relate to him more. I did love the way we see Luka soften and find his safe place with him . As a plant lover myself I was all in for the plant drama lol. Truly an enjoyable read and can’t wait to see what up next in Godless .
I found myself loving Luka from the start. Luka has a very dark past and finds himself involved with an assassins cult, a secret weapon of sorts. His twisted journey leads him to his next target, Vincent . What Luka didn’t see coming was that through all the plant drama reenacting using gummy worms he would fall for Vincent .
I enjoyed the world building , it was an interesting set up. The one thing I wish we got more of was character development for Vincent. Aside of knowing he is a therapist and loves his plants I felt like we needed a bit more on him , something to help relate to him more. I did love the way we see Luka soften and find his safe place with him . As a plant lover myself I was all in for the plant drama lol. Truly an enjoyable read and can’t wait to see what up next in Godless .
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