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World's End #1
Duce
One mafia boss.
One rival's son.
One deadly setup.
Parties and orgies... those are the only things Carlos Carmichael wants to do. It's the only way he knows to deal with his life as the son of a notorious cartel boss. He'll get whatever he wants by any means necessary.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
In a new world gone mad, even the good guys are bad. Welcome to the World's End series.
One rival's son.
One deadly setup.
Parties and orgies... those are the only things Carlos Carmichael wants to do. It's the only way he knows to deal with his life as the son of a notorious cartel boss. He'll get whatever he wants by any means necessary.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
In a new world gone mad, even the good guys are bad. Welcome to the World's End series.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2015
38 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Kai Tyler
8 books30 followersKai loves writing stories about forbidden men and relentless love, about gangsters with heart, antiheroes who do what they need to do to survive in a crazy world. These men commit to the lives they lead 100%—with heart, body and soul and when they fall in love you can be sure they bring the same level of passionate devotion to the people they love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 7, 2016
I was given a copy of this book free by the author in return for an unbiased review.
Set in a time when homosexuality is illegal and people are either sent to prison or committed into asylums, Dante, head of a crime organization meets Carl, in a gay club. Neither knows who the other is but Carl is the second son of a rival gang.
Ther are brutal parts of this story but I think of it more as a love story between the 2 MCs with the workings of the organizations bbeing the back drop.
An interesting book but although I liked it I am not sure if I will continue with the series.
Set in a time when homosexuality is illegal and people are either sent to prison or committed into asylums, Dante, head of a crime organization meets Carl, in a gay club. Neither knows who the other is but Carl is the second son of a rival gang.
Ther are brutal parts of this story but I think of it more as a love story between the 2 MCs with the workings of the organizations bbeing the back drop.
An interesting book but although I liked it I am not sure if I will continue with the series.
November 10, 2015
I read a lot of books but it’s not very often I find something truly unique and original. However, that is exactly what happened with these two stories. The plot and world are totally special and Kai Tyler’s writing voice is completely fresh and distinctive.
The world of World’s End is a futuristic, dystopian one where criminal cartels have taken over and rule their lands with varying degrees of iron fists. Some bosses allow drugs and prostitution, others do not. There isn’t much discussion about the past but the world building of how it currently is is magnificent.
Sicario is a short story and currently free on Amazon. It’s basically an introduction of the World’s End series, but just a primer. It was enough to make me request Duce so I could continue reading more about this fascinating world.
Enzo, a slave, is purchased by Lexan. He expects certain things from his new owner and is confused when Lexan is nothing like he anticipated. He expects to be raped but that isn’t what Lexan is going to do.
“…I would never think about topping you. Not unless it was what you wanted.”
When they do have sex it’s without pressure and completely consensual. It’s also extremely erotic and very hot. It’s not long until both men are bonded in a way that will change them forever. Not even Lexan’s career as a hitman can get in their way.
In Duce we meet mafia underboss Dante Orsini, heir to a large crime family. He’s also gay, something that isn’t widely known. One of the changes in The New World is that being gay is once again frowned on, in fact it can get you killed. He still manages to find lovers such as Carl, a mouthy twink he picks up at a bar.
Dante and Carl engage in some VERY hot sexin’ of the BDSM-lite variety. Dante is dominant and loves giving orders, while Carl is submissive and adores following orders. They have a lot of fun without realizing who the other really is. It’s not spoiling anything to reveal that Carl is really Carlos Carmichael, the playboy son of one of Dante’s rivals.
Carlos is the youngest son of Juan Pablo Carmichael, aka The Baron, a brutal and harsh mob boss. He’s the younger of The Baron’s sons and his brother Marcos is definitely the favored son. The Baron doesn’t care that Carlos is gay, he hates it in fact, and forces Carlos to choose an arranged marriage or be jailed for being homosexual.
Carlos finds himself in the middle of a mob war between his father and Dante and ends up a slave of Dante’s. Dante doesn’t abuse Carlos in anyway, he still cares for him, he just wants The Baron to remove the death warrant he put on Dante’s head. However, Dante and Carlos’ time together brings them even closer.
There are quite a few little surprises sprinkled throughout the book that made for an engaging read. I don’t want to ruin any of them, but I loved each and every one of them.
I adored Dante and Carlos’ relationship even if they seemed to fall in love before I really bought they were there. In lust and even like, but not love. That’s just a tiny niggle though.
The author’s ability to describe a scene is absolutely phenomenal. One scene that stands out is when Dante meets with a man regarding the warrant out for his life. Every last detail is mapped out and I was able to perfectly picture everything.
The world building is similarly amazing. It’s all worked naturally into the story with no large info dumps or boring exposition. That sort of thing normally bores me, but that did not happen here.
I’m a big fan of first person POV and the book alternates between Dante and Carlos, just as the first book did between Lexan and Enzo. We really get deep into these guys’ heads and emotions.
Toward the end of the book there’s a chapter that switches to third person POV. I’d normally bitch about the switch but it worked here perfectly.
There are really no good guys here. Just anti-heroes and bad guys who aren’t as evil as other criminals. It will be interesting what the author does with future stories. She set it up for many more stories down the road with lines such as….
Wait, I don’t want to ruin it for you. Just go read it. You will not regret it.
The world of World’s End is a futuristic, dystopian one where criminal cartels have taken over and rule their lands with varying degrees of iron fists. Some bosses allow drugs and prostitution, others do not. There isn’t much discussion about the past but the world building of how it currently is is magnificent.
Sicario is a short story and currently free on Amazon. It’s basically an introduction of the World’s End series, but just a primer. It was enough to make me request Duce so I could continue reading more about this fascinating world.
Enzo, a slave, is purchased by Lexan. He expects certain things from his new owner and is confused when Lexan is nothing like he anticipated. He expects to be raped but that isn’t what Lexan is going to do.
“…I would never think about topping you. Not unless it was what you wanted.”
When they do have sex it’s without pressure and completely consensual. It’s also extremely erotic and very hot. It’s not long until both men are bonded in a way that will change them forever. Not even Lexan’s career as a hitman can get in their way.
In Duce we meet mafia underboss Dante Orsini, heir to a large crime family. He’s also gay, something that isn’t widely known. One of the changes in The New World is that being gay is once again frowned on, in fact it can get you killed. He still manages to find lovers such as Carl, a mouthy twink he picks up at a bar.
Dante and Carl engage in some VERY hot sexin’ of the BDSM-lite variety. Dante is dominant and loves giving orders, while Carl is submissive and adores following orders. They have a lot of fun without realizing who the other really is. It’s not spoiling anything to reveal that Carl is really Carlos Carmichael, the playboy son of one of Dante’s rivals.
Carlos is the youngest son of Juan Pablo Carmichael, aka The Baron, a brutal and harsh mob boss. He’s the younger of The Baron’s sons and his brother Marcos is definitely the favored son. The Baron doesn’t care that Carlos is gay, he hates it in fact, and forces Carlos to choose an arranged marriage or be jailed for being homosexual.
Carlos finds himself in the middle of a mob war between his father and Dante and ends up a slave of Dante’s. Dante doesn’t abuse Carlos in anyway, he still cares for him, he just wants The Baron to remove the death warrant he put on Dante’s head. However, Dante and Carlos’ time together brings them even closer.
There are quite a few little surprises sprinkled throughout the book that made for an engaging read. I don’t want to ruin any of them, but I loved each and every one of them.
I adored Dante and Carlos’ relationship even if they seemed to fall in love before I really bought they were there. In lust and even like, but not love. That’s just a tiny niggle though.
The author’s ability to describe a scene is absolutely phenomenal. One scene that stands out is when Dante meets with a man regarding the warrant out for his life. Every last detail is mapped out and I was able to perfectly picture everything.
The world building is similarly amazing. It’s all worked naturally into the story with no large info dumps or boring exposition. That sort of thing normally bores me, but that did not happen here.
I’m a big fan of first person POV and the book alternates between Dante and Carlos, just as the first book did between Lexan and Enzo. We really get deep into these guys’ heads and emotions.
Toward the end of the book there’s a chapter that switches to third person POV. I’d normally bitch about the switch but it worked here perfectly.
There are really no good guys here. Just anti-heroes and bad guys who aren’t as evil as other criminals. It will be interesting what the author does with future stories. She set it up for many more stories down the road with lines such as….
Wait, I don’t want to ruin it for you. Just go read it. You will not regret it.
June 8, 2016
Inhalt:
One mafia boss.
One rival's son.
One deadly setup.
Parties and orgies... those are the only things Carlos Carmichael wants to do. It's the only way he knows to deal with his life as the son of a notorious cartel boss. He'll get whatever he wants by any means necessary.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
(Quelle Klappentext: Smashwords)
Meine Meinung:
Nach einiger Zeit habe ich mal wieder einen Titel bei Netgalley angefragt. Da er unter Read Now gelistet war, musste ich nicht einmal dafür beim Verlag anfragen, sondern konnte ihn direkt auf meinen Kindle laden. Da ich derzeit viele Fanfictions lese, und teilweise wirklich sehr gute, bin ich ziemlich wählerisch geworden und die letzten "richtigen" Bücher konnten mich nicht überzeugen. Spoiled Kid! :P
Duce allerdings hat mich von der ersten Sekunde an gefesselt. Dante, der Protagonist der Geschichte, ist ein attraktiver junger Mann um die 30 (obwohl ich ihn mir beim Lesen als 26 Jährigen vorgestellt habe), der nach dem Tod seiner Eltern über das südliche Kartell herrscht. Er wird als Mann mit viel Einfluss beschrieben und seine Doinanz konnte man wirklich aus den Zeilen rauslesen. Seine einzige Schwäche ist der süße 22-jährige Carl aka Carlos, mit dem er eine unvergessliche Nacht verbringt, die sich aber schon bald als großer Fehler herausstellt. Carl ist nämlich der Sohn eines verfeindeten Mafiabosses aus dem Norden. Ups. Natürlich ist Carls Vater überhaupt nicht glücklich, dass sein Sohn mit Dante anbandelt und so werden die beiden vor viele schwierige Entscheidungen gestellt.
Die Geschichte an sich war zwar sehr voraussehbar, aber trotzdem fand ich sie von Anfang bis Ende unterhaltsam und ich hätte am liebsten in jeder Szene zwischen Dante und Carl einen Seufzer ausgestoßen. Carl mit seinem süßen Lächeln und Dante, der diesem einfach nicht widerstehen kann. Die beiden haben einfach eine so tolle Chemie und wie der Autor die Entwicklung der Beziehung beschrieben hat, war vollkommen authentisch. Durch die Hürden, die den beiden in den Weg gelegt werden, kommen sie sich immer näher und so wird auch das Vertrauen zwischen ihnen weiter aufgebaut. Kai Tyler hat dies wirklich gut rübergebracht mit seinen Worten.
Zudem hatte die Story einen guten Mix an lustigen, ernsten, süßen und auch heißen Szenen zu bieten. Ein rundum gelungenes Buch wie ich finde :)
Fazit:
Duce von Kai Tylerist ein durchweg gelungenes Buch. Die Charaktere sind vielschichtig und jeder spielt eine besondere Rolle - keiner wird vergessen. Es sind sogar Folgebände geplant, die die Geschichten von einigen Nebencharakteren näher beleuchten! Der Schreibstil ist angenehm zu lesen und der Mix aus ernsten und aufgelockerten Szenen sehr gut gewählt. Ein Wohlfühlbuch, das mich sehr oft hat Grinsen lassen. Dante & Carl = I SHIP IT! ♥
One mafia boss.
One rival's son.
One deadly setup.
Parties and orgies... those are the only things Carlos Carmichael wants to do. It's the only way he knows to deal with his life as the son of a notorious cartel boss. He'll get whatever he wants by any means necessary.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
(Quelle Klappentext: Smashwords)
Meine Meinung:
Nach einiger Zeit habe ich mal wieder einen Titel bei Netgalley angefragt. Da er unter Read Now gelistet war, musste ich nicht einmal dafür beim Verlag anfragen, sondern konnte ihn direkt auf meinen Kindle laden. Da ich derzeit viele Fanfictions lese, und teilweise wirklich sehr gute, bin ich ziemlich wählerisch geworden und die letzten "richtigen" Bücher konnten mich nicht überzeugen. Spoiled Kid! :P
Duce allerdings hat mich von der ersten Sekunde an gefesselt. Dante, der Protagonist der Geschichte, ist ein attraktiver junger Mann um die 30 (obwohl ich ihn mir beim Lesen als 26 Jährigen vorgestellt habe), der nach dem Tod seiner Eltern über das südliche Kartell herrscht. Er wird als Mann mit viel Einfluss beschrieben und seine Doinanz konnte man wirklich aus den Zeilen rauslesen. Seine einzige Schwäche ist der süße 22-jährige Carl aka Carlos, mit dem er eine unvergessliche Nacht verbringt, die sich aber schon bald als großer Fehler herausstellt. Carl ist nämlich der Sohn eines verfeindeten Mafiabosses aus dem Norden. Ups. Natürlich ist Carls Vater überhaupt nicht glücklich, dass sein Sohn mit Dante anbandelt und so werden die beiden vor viele schwierige Entscheidungen gestellt.
Die Geschichte an sich war zwar sehr voraussehbar, aber trotzdem fand ich sie von Anfang bis Ende unterhaltsam und ich hätte am liebsten in jeder Szene zwischen Dante und Carl einen Seufzer ausgestoßen. Carl mit seinem süßen Lächeln und Dante, der diesem einfach nicht widerstehen kann. Die beiden haben einfach eine so tolle Chemie und wie der Autor die Entwicklung der Beziehung beschrieben hat, war vollkommen authentisch. Durch die Hürden, die den beiden in den Weg gelegt werden, kommen sie sich immer näher und so wird auch das Vertrauen zwischen ihnen weiter aufgebaut. Kai Tyler hat dies wirklich gut rübergebracht mit seinen Worten.
Zudem hatte die Story einen guten Mix an lustigen, ernsten, süßen und auch heißen Szenen zu bieten. Ein rundum gelungenes Buch wie ich finde :)
Fazit:
Duce von Kai Tylerist ein durchweg gelungenes Buch. Die Charaktere sind vielschichtig und jeder spielt eine besondere Rolle - keiner wird vergessen. Es sind sogar Folgebände geplant, die die Geschichten von einigen Nebencharakteren näher beleuchten! Der Schreibstil ist angenehm zu lesen und der Mix aus ernsten und aufgelockerten Szenen sehr gut gewählt. Ein Wohlfühlbuch, das mich sehr oft hat Grinsen lassen. Dante & Carl = I SHIP IT! ♥
June 3, 2016
This was a very nice book. I enjoyed it so much. It was so much more than I expected. It had everything I want in a book, a good plot, strong characters, crime and love. Just my type of book.
It’s setup in a kind of dystopian world, where the mafia it’s still the mafia. Dante it’s an underboss, very committed to his job, until he meet Carlos, the son of a cartel boss. An interesting turn of events starts a fight not only for their lives, but also for love.
Even when the world created by the author it’s describe as dystopian, it had mostly modern elements with some interesting changes that made more difficult the life of the main characters. The organized crime still keep its usual way of action.
Dante it’s a very nice character, an underboss, very respected and fear, but since the beginning of the book, the reader can see him as someone with the ability of love, and to do anything for the ones he love.
Carlos, is a, sort of a spoiled, son of a cartel boss, but he isn’t an unlikable character, he doesn’t come along as a brat either. He is a very nice character and the relationship they built it’s beautiful. It has ups and downs, but there is always strong emotions present between them. The moments they share are great.
The plot it’s really good. It has a lot of unexpected events and it’s easy to keep the attention.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I really think it was a great book, and since it’s a part of a series, I’m feeling very motivated to read the other book.
*Book provided by NetGalley.
It’s setup in a kind of dystopian world, where the mafia it’s still the mafia. Dante it’s an underboss, very committed to his job, until he meet Carlos, the son of a cartel boss. An interesting turn of events starts a fight not only for their lives, but also for love.
Even when the world created by the author it’s describe as dystopian, it had mostly modern elements with some interesting changes that made more difficult the life of the main characters. The organized crime still keep its usual way of action.
Dante it’s a very nice character, an underboss, very respected and fear, but since the beginning of the book, the reader can see him as someone with the ability of love, and to do anything for the ones he love.
Carlos, is a, sort of a spoiled, son of a cartel boss, but he isn’t an unlikable character, he doesn’t come along as a brat either. He is a very nice character and the relationship they built it’s beautiful. It has ups and downs, but there is always strong emotions present between them. The moments they share are great.
The plot it’s really good. It has a lot of unexpected events and it’s easy to keep the attention.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I really think it was a great book, and since it’s a part of a series, I’m feeling very motivated to read the other book.
*Book provided by NetGalley.
October 19, 2015
Dante and Carl meet at an exclusive club. Carl knows right away he wants Dante. He sees him as the 3D's. Dark, Dangerous & Domineering. Perfect for what he has in mind.
Dante saved Carl's life, so he feels responsible for the kid. He does not think he is big enough or old enough to handle what he would give to him. Turns out that is not quite true...
When push comes to shove, all that matters is that Carl is willing to do what it takes to be where Dante is. Can Dante make a place in his carefully ordered life for him? All Carl wants is to be his.
There is more going on here, and Dante is right to be worried. It is a case of opposites attract. This is a great book of suspense and good banter. Sexy times, and dark and dangerous times. I loved how they could not deny one another even when they want to. Great second book in the World's End series.
***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.
Dante saved Carl's life, so he feels responsible for the kid. He does not think he is big enough or old enough to handle what he would give to him. Turns out that is not quite true...
When push comes to shove, all that matters is that Carl is willing to do what it takes to be where Dante is. Can Dante make a place in his carefully ordered life for him? All Carl wants is to be his.
There is more going on here, and Dante is right to be worried. It is a case of opposites attract. This is a great book of suspense and good banter. Sexy times, and dark and dangerous times. I loved how they could not deny one another even when they want to. Great second book in the World's End series.
***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.
February 18, 2016
Such a riveting read. I was hooked on this story from the teasers Kai had posted on her blog, and I finally had some time to read this story. I could not put it down, and I'm looking forward to the rest in this series.
Suspenseful and emotional with well fleshed out characters.
Suspenseful and emotional with well fleshed out characters.
November 16, 2015
I've been reading books about gangsters and mafia men for a while. I read Mario Puzo's The Godfather as a teenager and fell in love with the characters. I've gone on to watch several movies of the same genre. So when in the past few years mafia romance/erotica suddenly became all the rage, I knew it was going to be win-win for me as a reader, combining my favourite genres into hot reads.
A few months ago I read Sicario which is a prequel to this series and I was intrigued, not just by the characters but by the physical world the author was creating. It was like nothing I'd read about before.
So when Duce came out, I was glad for the privilege to read it. In this story, Dante is a mob boss on a personal mission to find out what happened to his parents when he was a boy. He's away from his turf on vacation where he meets Carl (Carlos) at a nightclub. It's the only place in the territory where being gay won't get you into trouble.
One thing leads to another and these two get together for a one-night stand. But things get complicated when Dante finds out that Carlos is the son of a rival cartel boss. Neither of them are safe as trouble comes looking for them full throttle in the form of assassins and vendettas.
And with all that going on, the two of them discover they are falling in love with each other. But in a world where any show of affection between them can lead to death, how are they going to stay alive?
I love what the author did here with the world building. Usually with other books, you get a whole heap of information dumped on you upfront as the authors try to give you a sense of settings. In this book, the information you need about the world is woven into the narrative and the dialogue in a seamless, just-in-time basis, so that you have enough to picture the scene without being overloaded with unnecessary words.
But the best thing about this book for me was the characters. I loved them all, even the secondary ones. Don't get me wrong, these are bad guys, antiheroes to be exact. They do bad things, illegal things and have no qualms about killing or maiming others. And if you're expecting that at the end of the story they go from being bad to being reformed, then you need to adjust your expectations. You won't find any 'road to Damascus' style transformations here as you find in many other romance novels.
This is a well-written book. I got hooked from the opening sentence and didn't put it down until the last. In fact, I've read it twice since the first time. The characters are engaging and you can't help rooting for them. I loved Dante especially and would love to see more of him in future books. #TeamDante.
The action is heart-thumping and well-paced, the smexy scenes are hot. Watching Dante and Carl together left me feeling warm and fuzzy as well as hot and bothered. LOL. The perfect high-stakes blend of power, violence and sex in one book is intoxicating and I can't wait for the next book in the series. If you want books about dark and dangerous men, then you've got to grab this. You won't be disappointed. While you're at it, pick up a copy of Sicario too. It's free to download.
A few months ago I read Sicario which is a prequel to this series and I was intrigued, not just by the characters but by the physical world the author was creating. It was like nothing I'd read about before.
So when Duce came out, I was glad for the privilege to read it. In this story, Dante is a mob boss on a personal mission to find out what happened to his parents when he was a boy. He's away from his turf on vacation where he meets Carl (Carlos) at a nightclub. It's the only place in the territory where being gay won't get you into trouble.
One thing leads to another and these two get together for a one-night stand. But things get complicated when Dante finds out that Carlos is the son of a rival cartel boss. Neither of them are safe as trouble comes looking for them full throttle in the form of assassins and vendettas.
And with all that going on, the two of them discover they are falling in love with each other. But in a world where any show of affection between them can lead to death, how are they going to stay alive?
I love what the author did here with the world building. Usually with other books, you get a whole heap of information dumped on you upfront as the authors try to give you a sense of settings. In this book, the information you need about the world is woven into the narrative and the dialogue in a seamless, just-in-time basis, so that you have enough to picture the scene without being overloaded with unnecessary words.
But the best thing about this book for me was the characters. I loved them all, even the secondary ones. Don't get me wrong, these are bad guys, antiheroes to be exact. They do bad things, illegal things and have no qualms about killing or maiming others. And if you're expecting that at the end of the story they go from being bad to being reformed, then you need to adjust your expectations. You won't find any 'road to Damascus' style transformations here as you find in many other romance novels.
This is a well-written book. I got hooked from the opening sentence and didn't put it down until the last. In fact, I've read it twice since the first time. The characters are engaging and you can't help rooting for them. I loved Dante especially and would love to see more of him in future books. #TeamDante.
The action is heart-thumping and well-paced, the smexy scenes are hot. Watching Dante and Carl together left me feeling warm and fuzzy as well as hot and bothered. LOL. The perfect high-stakes blend of power, violence and sex in one book is intoxicating and I can't wait for the next book in the series. If you want books about dark and dangerous men, then you've got to grab this. You won't be disappointed. While you're at it, pick up a copy of Sicario too. It's free to download.
June 7, 2016
DISCLAIMER: A free copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
And to think this one started off quite well... A dystopian 21st century world where the gangs order things around and where slavery is back. A world that has some similarities with our current world but is actually very different from ours. And two men who find themselves falling for each other despite the fact that their families have been enemies as long as they remember. Isn't it a great idea? Well, I certainly thought so when I acquired my copy, but unfortunately it was all ruined by the writing.
I didn't actually mind the writing style itself in general as I thought that Tyler had potential, but I was actually quite put off by the typos and random jumps in time and the fact that the edition seemed like a beta edition or something rather than a real copy sold in all kinds of shops since autumn last year. The mistakes didn't seem so abundant at first, but by the time the final quarter rolled around it became rather difficult for me to understand what the hell was going on as the author didn't actually explain things the way I felt should have been necessary.
For instance, the whole business with the kids who had been experimented on and had special powers was left totally who knows where and other than the fact that we know that Dante has some exceptional hearing, we know nothing about it and Dante actually fails to use it most of the time. Since I have not read the first book in the series and have no plans on reading the next ones, I don't know whether this problem was (or will be) addressed in those books, but I would have definitely liked to find out more about this!
I was expecting to read an m/m romance but to be honest, I felt that there was actually quite little romance in it and most of the book actually focused more on eradicating the threat to Dante's life with some sexcapades thrown into the mix. And humiliating Carlos in one or other way. I'm sorry, but I'm simply not into the humiliation business.
All in all: A book with lots of promise, but with unfortunately with less than exciting execution.
The following review was originally posted on my book blog The Book Challengers.
And to think this one started off quite well... A dystopian 21st century world where the gangs order things around and where slavery is back. A world that has some similarities with our current world but is actually very different from ours. And two men who find themselves falling for each other despite the fact that their families have been enemies as long as they remember. Isn't it a great idea? Well, I certainly thought so when I acquired my copy, but unfortunately it was all ruined by the writing.
I didn't actually mind the writing style itself in general as I thought that Tyler had potential, but I was actually quite put off by the typos and random jumps in time and the fact that the edition seemed like a beta edition or something rather than a real copy sold in all kinds of shops since autumn last year. The mistakes didn't seem so abundant at first, but by the time the final quarter rolled around it became rather difficult for me to understand what the hell was going on as the author didn't actually explain things the way I felt should have been necessary.
For instance, the whole business with the kids who had been experimented on and had special powers was left totally who knows where and other than the fact that we know that Dante has some exceptional hearing, we know nothing about it and Dante actually fails to use it most of the time. Since I have not read the first book in the series and have no plans on reading the next ones, I don't know whether this problem was (or will be) addressed in those books, but I would have definitely liked to find out more about this!
I was expecting to read an m/m romance but to be honest, I felt that there was actually quite little romance in it and most of the book actually focused more on eradicating the threat to Dante's life with some sexcapades thrown into the mix. And humiliating Carlos in one or other way. I'm sorry, but I'm simply not into the humiliation business.
All in all: A book with lots of promise, but with unfortunately with less than exciting execution.
November 8, 2016
Reviewed on behalf of 2 Girls Who Love Books
I really enjoyed this book. Duce has a scenario that I have never read before. Mafia meet gay romance and BDSM scenario. It was very well written and characters written perfectly. The writing just clicked for me.
This book is based on a futuristic life. Let me explain. Each Territory has rules and regulations, so to speak, to live by. One will accept the gay way of living. The other accepts drugs and prostition.. So forth and so on.
Dante is a mob underboss. Dante is gay and a very dominant man. He feels he has to control everything, even in sex life. He finds himself in a tricky situation when he has a fling with a man from another mob.
Carl aka Carlos Carmichael is the son of a very dangerous mob boss. He is the submissive type which fit well with Dante. He ends up being a slave to Dante due to issues between the two mobs. Carl doesn't mind in any way.
This book had a few twists and turns you don't see coming. This makes Duce even better.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters faced real issues with them both being gay.
4 stars for a well written book.
I really enjoyed this book. Duce has a scenario that I have never read before. Mafia meet gay romance and BDSM scenario. It was very well written and characters written perfectly. The writing just clicked for me.
This book is based on a futuristic life. Let me explain. Each Territory has rules and regulations, so to speak, to live by. One will accept the gay way of living. The other accepts drugs and prostition.. So forth and so on.
Dante is a mob underboss. Dante is gay and a very dominant man. He feels he has to control everything, even in sex life. He finds himself in a tricky situation when he has a fling with a man from another mob.
Carl aka Carlos Carmichael is the son of a very dangerous mob boss. He is the submissive type which fit well with Dante. He ends up being a slave to Dante due to issues between the two mobs. Carl doesn't mind in any way.
This book had a few twists and turns you don't see coming. This makes Duce even better.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters faced real issues with them both being gay.
4 stars for a well written book.
July 2, 2016
This book had real potential but ultimately too many loose ends and contradictions. Sadly, not for me.
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 15, 2016
Duce is a mafia M/M romance set in a futuristic, dystoptian type setting. The main characters Dante and Carlos meet in a night club when they are both out for a night of relaxation and interested in finding someone to have good time with. While they are both attracted to each other, Dante doesn't originally think its such a good idea to take Carlos home. A dangerous situation and a rescue lead to the two of them leaving the club together after all. That decision though sets off a chain of events that neither of them see coming. Dante soon discovers that the man he now can't stop thinking about is the son of a rival cartel boss. Carlos discovers that man he wanted from first sight is just like the men he has grown up around and despised. And in a new world that is against the two of them being together at all, it seems like their love is doomed before even really having a chance to begin.
Starting off, I'll mention the things that I liked about this book. Dante would be the main thing. Despite being this badass cartel guy, he was still honorable. If he made a promise, he kept it. If he saw someone in trouble, he helped. Of course he wasn't perfect, but that's what makes him even better. He has issues with things from his past. He also had moments where he did what he felt he had to do, even if it wasn't what he wanted to do, and even though it hurt Carlos. He still ended up being a great character for me and my favorite of the story. I liked the depth of the story-line. There were a lot of different things at play here but it was laid out in such a way that it flowed very well. There was no confusion as to what was going on in the moment, and there were no slow, boring moments for me. There were some supporting characters that I loved, and then there were some that I hated. But the ones that I hated were the bad guys that I was supposed to hate anyway so it was OK. And even Carlos, while I did not like him as much as his other half Dante, because he sometimes had some juvenile moments that weren't so endearing, I still liked him overall.
The only dislikes for me about this story were first, I felt like the two were "in love" without a whole lot there to base that love on at the time that they were throwing the word out there. Toward the end, I totally got it and felt that after everything that they had been through it absolutely made sense that they had fallen in love, but when they first mentioned it I kind of felt like they barely knew each other and I didn't get what the basis of their love was built on. And then second, there was the rushed ending. I felt like everything was flowing so steady and smooth and then bam, everything is getting wrapped up and finished out of no where. I felt like some of the things that happened could have been extended either into making the book longer, or could have been put into another book about these two characters and I would have happily read it.
Overall this was a very enjoyable story that I would definitely recommend and I look forward to the upcoming books about some of the secondary characters that I liked in this one.
May 2, 2021
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2018/04/02/...
Rating: 2 Stars - it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
Rating: 2 Stars - it’s a struggle to finish the damn book
June 4, 2019
This review may be a teeny bit unfair and biased because the BDSM genre doesn't really do it for me, nonetheless I slogged through this book and was disappointed by the 2D characterisation, the MC's were never really given a personality and the story (conflict) bored me. This one is a no from me unless you like caricatures and glorification of slavery (ugh).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Al comienzo era algo interesante, tenía un aire a uno de los libros de la saga de Chicos heterosexuales, así que seguí leyendo, si en embargo la historia iba bajando el nivel.
Y EL FINAL.
...
Fue de los más rápido y abrupto, como si se le hubieran acabado las páginas a la autora y dijera, esto de soluciona así no más, todo facilito y ya.
Dos estrellas solo porque al comienzo me gustó.
Y EL FINAL.
...
Fue de los más rápido y abrupto, como si se le hubieran acabado las páginas a la autora y dijera, esto de soluciona así no más, todo facilito y ya.
Dos estrellas solo porque al comienzo me gustó.
February 3, 2026
horrible writing, horrible pacing. there's absolutely no development of the plot or relationships, every single important event just suddenly happens or has already happened and is glossed over, often in just a couple paragraphs, with the most stilted and boring writing ever.
also, casual and completely unnecessary transphobia and racism, hate it.
also, casual and completely unnecessary transphobia and racism, hate it.
October 11, 2017
Good start to a series.
I listened to the audio. I thought The narrator was good, but the sound was off. Almost as if it were recorded in a small space, it had a hint an echo to it. Not enough to make me not listen to it though. in fact, I didn't want to stop.
3.5*
I listened to the audio. I thought The narrator was good, but the sound was off. Almost as if it were recorded in a small space, it had a hint an echo to it. Not enough to make me not listen to it though. in fact, I didn't want to stop.
3.5*
August 21, 2021
2.5 Estaba medio en un bloqueo y me ayudo. No tiene mucha trama ni buen smut (¿se sigue diciendo asi?) fue como meh pero como no queria usar mucho la cabeza y era rapido y entretenido ayudo.
January 23, 2022
Nice work...please continue the series.
March 5, 2025
A really enjoyable and interesting experience I found I couldn't put it down until I finished it, it's just brilliant 👌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2015
I really liked this book. It has action, romance, mystery and more. I haven't read the first book in the series however I wasn't confused at all. In this new world homosexuality is once again not accepted by the general population. Organized crime rules this new rule and being a gay man is a definite no and will get you killed. Dante is on a person mission to find out what happened to his parents. Since his mission is personal and not business he is a little more relaxed than usual and decides to visit the only gay club. There he meets Carl; there is just something about the boy. Dante is easily 10 years older than Carl but when he thinks Carl is in trouble he doesn't hesitate to rush to help him. Carl is just as taken with Dante as Dante is with him. They form a bond very quickly and a one night stand could turn into more. While out the next day Dante notices someone following them and sends Carl into cafe ahead of him so that he can talk to the man following them. He learns that Carl set him up the night before and can't believe he let someone in and fell for a trap. Carl is the son of Dante's enemy. He is mad at himself and at Carl; he doesn't stay for any kind of explanation just leaves and doesn't look back. However this isn't the last time these two will see each other. Did Carl trick Dante to set him up to help his father or just to get Dante's attention for himself? What will happen when Carl's father finds out? The mafia world has strict rules and traditions. Dante has to be careful of everything he does. There are lots of people who would like his job and kill to get it. Being gay on top of that would make him a bigger target if certain people found out. Carl has grown up never having to really work for anything. He is about to find out what it is like to have nothing. His father is a ruthless man and everyone does want he wants or he makes them pay. Carl is the disposable son and his father has always seen him as a disappointment. Carl hates everything about his father and older brother. He doesn't know that Dante is in the same line of work as his father. What will he do when he finds out? This book was a great read and I have picked up the first one to read it. The story was well written and the characters draw you in. I look forward to reading more books in this series in the future.
I was given this book in return for an honest revie
I was given this book in return for an honest revie
April 20, 2016
3.5 stars.
From the moment I read the synopsis of Duce by Kai Tyler, I was extremely curious.... Mobsters, cartels, vengeance, love and men... All my favorite subjects to read. I'm a huge fan of m/m books and this is the first one I've read that is dark and mysterious. I found this nonconformist plot refreshing.
Two men who were never supposed to be brought together...
Dante Orsino is a mob underboss for the Vincenzo family. Carlos Carmichael is the son of a rival cartel boss. These boys are eccentric and fascinating. Extreme opposites that seem to balance each other. Dante is domineering and controlled. He is well respected and his presents demands submission. A true alpha male and sexy as hell.While Carl runs around acting like a bratty whore. Just partying and sleeping around. He is flamboyant, but his boyish charm makes him so loveable. Put them together and sparks fly. They have an undeniable connection. Even with knowing they should not be together, they can not stay away. As the story proceeded, I got glimpses into who they really are behind their facade... It was exciting getting to know them. The description says, Duce is book 2 and a stand alone. So I didn't feel the need to read the first... needless to say, I was tad confused in understanding the dystopian background and the "New Earth." Therefore, I suggest reading book one first. For an m/m book, I found the storyline to be so strong and different on it's own. Add the dystopian aspects and it certainly puts a very unique spin on it. There were a couple of scenes that had such powerful potential, but fell a little short for me. Also, the story ended rather abruptly. I wanted more! But over all I really enjoyed Duce. For a new author, I think Kai has some great ideas. I'm very intrigued to see what comes next....
From the moment I read the synopsis of Duce by Kai Tyler, I was extremely curious.... Mobsters, cartels, vengeance, love and men... All my favorite subjects to read. I'm a huge fan of m/m books and this is the first one I've read that is dark and mysterious. I found this nonconformist plot refreshing.
Two men who were never supposed to be brought together...
Dante Orsino is a mob underboss for the Vincenzo family. Carlos Carmichael is the son of a rival cartel boss. These boys are eccentric and fascinating. Extreme opposites that seem to balance each other. Dante is domineering and controlled. He is well respected and his presents demands submission. A true alpha male and sexy as hell.While Carl runs around acting like a bratty whore. Just partying and sleeping around. He is flamboyant, but his boyish charm makes him so loveable. Put them together and sparks fly. They have an undeniable connection. Even with knowing they should not be together, they can not stay away. As the story proceeded, I got glimpses into who they really are behind their facade... It was exciting getting to know them. The description says, Duce is book 2 and a stand alone. So I didn't feel the need to read the first... needless to say, I was tad confused in understanding the dystopian background and the "New Earth." Therefore, I suggest reading book one first. For an m/m book, I found the storyline to be so strong and different on it's own. Add the dystopian aspects and it certainly puts a very unique spin on it. There were a couple of scenes that had such powerful potential, but fell a little short for me. Also, the story ended rather abruptly. I wanted more! But over all I really enjoyed Duce. For a new author, I think Kai has some great ideas. I'm very intrigued to see what comes next....
October 13, 2015
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian I Dig Good Books, I was gifted my copy of this book to review.
Dante: Heir to one of the biggest Families in the Southern Territories.
Carlos: Second son to Dante's rival.
One Mafia Boss,
One Rival's Son,
One Deadly Set up.
This is book two in the Worlds End series, but you don't need to have read book one, Sicario, before you read this one. That is Lexan and Enzo's story, and while they do appear here, you don't have to have read it, for this story to make sense.
This was a longer read, than book one, but not by much. It also answers some of those questions I was left with after book one, about the Ne World, and the Old world. About how things came to be so difficult for a gay man in this world.
Its still seemed only short, but it packs a far more powerful punch than Sicario. Its sexier, deadlier, darker and are more dangerous for both Carlos and Dante.
we get more of an insight into the darker part of this world, drug abuse, drug dealing, prostitution, kidnapping, slavery. Some readers may find this a difficult read.
I did like...no, like isn't quite the right word....appreciate, that while Carlos was "trained" by two different people, we don't get that in any detail. Its mentioned, talked about, briefly, but no detail. I think, that if we had, it might have spoilt the read for me.
As I said, book two. Who and what happens next, no idea. Will I read them?? Hopefully. This is, I think, only the second book by this author, and I'd like to see how they develop, grow. Will love to watch how Tyler finds their feet.
But please! A longer book would be awesome!
4 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.com, and Amazon.co.uk**
Dante: Heir to one of the biggest Families in the Southern Territories.
Carlos: Second son to Dante's rival.
One Mafia Boss,
One Rival's Son,
One Deadly Set up.
This is book two in the Worlds End series, but you don't need to have read book one, Sicario, before you read this one. That is Lexan and Enzo's story, and while they do appear here, you don't have to have read it, for this story to make sense.
This was a longer read, than book one, but not by much. It also answers some of those questions I was left with after book one, about the Ne World, and the Old world. About how things came to be so difficult for a gay man in this world.
Its still seemed only short, but it packs a far more powerful punch than Sicario. Its sexier, deadlier, darker and are more dangerous for both Carlos and Dante.
we get more of an insight into the darker part of this world, drug abuse, drug dealing, prostitution, kidnapping, slavery. Some readers may find this a difficult read.
I did like...no, like isn't quite the right word....appreciate, that while Carlos was "trained" by two different people, we don't get that in any detail. Its mentioned, talked about, briefly, but no detail. I think, that if we had, it might have spoilt the read for me.
As I said, book two. Who and what happens next, no idea. Will I read them?? Hopefully. This is, I think, only the second book by this author, and I'd like to see how they develop, grow. Will love to watch how Tyler finds their feet.
But please! A longer book would be awesome!
4 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.com, and Amazon.co.uk**
August 4, 2016
I got this book for free from the author In exchange for an honest review through the DBML program of the M/M Romance group at Goodreads.
Carlos Carmichael is the son of one of remaining Cartel boss and he hate all the cartel stands for so he rebels by being a male slut and not participating in the family business he usually get his way with the men then he meets Dante "D" Orsino and he plays by the old fashioned mafia rules not the current broken society rules. The world has been partially destroyed by a catastrophic event and the surviving population had to move to the better climate/habitat of the southern hemisphere. The Government is corrupt and some of the Cartel looks out for their population and some exploit them.
After "D" and Carlos return to their homes Carlos is blackmailed into toeing the line and becoming engaged to another leader's daughter even though he is gay. Carlos father strike at some of "D" businesses and when Dante in a bold move capture Carlos's brother he set up an hostage situation and take Carlos as his hostage. they fall in love over time and want to protect the other. crime happens and thing settle with both Dante and Carlos leading their families enterprises in the same territory. they hide what they really are as business partners. 3.5 rounded up to four
Carlos Carmichael is the son of one of remaining Cartel boss and he hate all the cartel stands for so he rebels by being a male slut and not participating in the family business he usually get his way with the men then he meets Dante "D" Orsino and he plays by the old fashioned mafia rules not the current broken society rules. The world has been partially destroyed by a catastrophic event and the surviving population had to move to the better climate/habitat of the southern hemisphere. The Government is corrupt and some of the Cartel looks out for their population and some exploit them.
After "D" and Carlos return to their homes Carlos is blackmailed into toeing the line and becoming engaged to another leader's daughter even though he is gay. Carlos father strike at some of "D" businesses and when Dante in a bold move capture Carlos's brother he set up an hostage situation and take Carlos as his hostage. they fall in love over time and want to protect the other. crime happens and thing settle with both Dante and Carlos leading their families enterprises in the same territory. they hide what they really are as business partners. 3.5 rounded up to four
October 16, 2015
ThreeStar
This was an interesting book. Just like the first book, there was a lot of promise there, but it seemed to just not quite get there.
The first 3/4 of the book was quite good. We got to see a bit of what happened to the couple from the first book too, which was nice. This story was developed more fully than the first one was and still an easy read, however there was a lot of editing errors that really distracted from the story or awkward sentence starts.
Then we get this huge build up to this one scene.... and then... FLOP... I mean really this scene should've been HUGE and instead it's two paragraphs leaving the reading feeling completely let down.
It makes me feel sad that up until that point I'd thought the story was quite good and from that point on it just went downhill for me.
I felt like the whole mystery behind the child testing center thing is an added point that almost distracts from the main part of the story as well. It really only comes up when convient and doesn't really affect any other part of the story.
I do hope the next book gets better in the leaps and bounds that this one was than the first one because it was much better.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
This was an interesting book. Just like the first book, there was a lot of promise there, but it seemed to just not quite get there.
The first 3/4 of the book was quite good. We got to see a bit of what happened to the couple from the first book too, which was nice. This story was developed more fully than the first one was and still an easy read, however there was a lot of editing errors that really distracted from the story or awkward sentence starts.
Then we get this huge build up to this one scene.... and then... FLOP... I mean really this scene should've been HUGE and instead it's two paragraphs leaving the reading feeling completely let down.
It makes me feel sad that up until that point I'd thought the story was quite good and from that point on it just went downhill for me.
I felt like the whole mystery behind the child testing center thing is an added point that almost distracts from the main part of the story as well. It really only comes up when convient and doesn't really affect any other part of the story.
I do hope the next book gets better in the leaps and bounds that this one was than the first one because it was much better.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
June 23, 2016
Set in a dystopian world, where rules and regulations meet the mob, things that we see as normal in this time and place are now forbidden - gay relationships, gambling to name just two. Dante is an under-boss of a cartel with principles. They don't allow drugs on their turf, they also make sure their prostitutes have regular health checks. Carl is a young man looking for fun. You don't know who he is at the beginning, but the attraction between Carl and Dante is immediate. Of course, it turns out that Carl got his way through the manipulation of others, which shows just how spoilt he is. He does grow up a lot in this book though, as circumstances and situations leave him with no option.
Although I enjoyed this book, I do feel like it could be better. The ear implant that Dante has is almost brushed over, forgotten about until it's relevant. Also, the ending seemed quite rushed. It certainly could have been drawn out a bit more, showing more emotion as Carl and Dante react to difficulties.
This is a darker read, involving torture and death, courtesy of the mob. With twists and turns coming from every direction, this is certainly a book to read without disruption.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Although I enjoyed this book, I do feel like it could be better. The ear implant that Dante has is almost brushed over, forgotten about until it's relevant. Also, the ending seemed quite rushed. It certainly could have been drawn out a bit more, showing more emotion as Carl and Dante react to difficulties.
This is a darker read, involving torture and death, courtesy of the mob. With twists and turns coming from every direction, this is certainly a book to read without disruption.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
October 19, 2015
Many people think organized crime is a thing of the past. But what might it look like in the future? For Dante Orsino, a mafia underboss, it doesn't look all that different than one might expect--there are traditions and expectations, and they don't leave much space for a gay man. And when he finds himself entangled with Carlos Carmichael, the son of the head of a rival family, he learns just how deep those traditions run...
A very interesting and intriguing read. In a world where I often feel like I'm reading some of the same stories over and over again in m/m romance, it was nice to see what I think is a new take and voice in the genre. Definitely an enjoyable read.
The focus here, to me, was on the characters and the relationships. The dystopian elements aren't very strong, but that's okay because they're not incredibly relevant to the overall plot. I feel like the focus here was in the right place, for sure--just wanted to mention that caveat in case someone was picking this up looking for a story a bit heavier on the dystopian elements.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
A very interesting and intriguing read. In a world where I often feel like I'm reading some of the same stories over and over again in m/m romance, it was nice to see what I think is a new take and voice in the genre. Definitely an enjoyable read.
The focus here, to me, was on the characters and the relationships. The dystopian elements aren't very strong, but that's okay because they're not incredibly relevant to the overall plot. I feel like the focus here was in the right place, for sure--just wanted to mention that caveat in case someone was picking this up looking for a story a bit heavier on the dystopian elements.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
August 11, 2016
*A copy of this book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
I really wish I liked this more. But it was nothing like I expected. I expected something dark and complicated, but this was kind of simple and light(kind of, it's in a weird middle ground but closer to fluff than I thought it'd be.) I found Carlos to be super dramatic and with regards to what happened at the end I had a really difficult time feeling any kind of sympathy for him. Part of that is because he was melodramatic and part is that everything happens off page. Duce was better, but I still would've like more answers to questions...though maybe those are set to come later in the series, but they were NEEDED in this book. I would've liked more world building too, there's all these allusions to things but no real explanation. But all that said, this book wasn't bad, I enjoyed it well enough. I liked when Carlos and Duce first hooked up, I would've really enjoyed more of that push/pull. I was happy they end up together. I liked seeing the guys from Sicario again. So I think this is a good read, I would've liked it more had I not had different expectations I think.
I really wish I liked this more. But it was nothing like I expected. I expected something dark and complicated, but this was kind of simple and light(kind of, it's in a weird middle ground but closer to fluff than I thought it'd be.) I found Carlos to be super dramatic and with regards to what happened at the end I had a really difficult time feeling any kind of sympathy for him. Part of that is because he was melodramatic and part is that everything happens off page. Duce was better, but I still would've like more answers to questions...though maybe those are set to come later in the series, but they were NEEDED in this book. I would've liked more world building too, there's all these allusions to things but no real explanation. But all that said, this book wasn't bad, I enjoyed it well enough. I liked when Carlos and Duce first hooked up, I would've really enjoyed more of that push/pull. I was happy they end up together. I liked seeing the guys from Sicario again. So I think this is a good read, I would've liked it more had I not had different expectations I think.
August 24, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story features a dystopian world, where society is run by the cartels. It’s a very corrupt world. Carlos Carmichael is the son of one of the crime bosses or heads of one of the cartels. When he sleeps with Dante Orsino, the underboss of one of the biggest families, it causes quite a problem. Dante finds a way to fix it that allows he and Carlos to be together. There is the usual crime aspect that you get in books that feature mafia stories. There is good action and lots of threat to lives. Both Dante, or D as he goes by, and Carlos are good guys in the story and don’t like the corrupt cartels. Carlos and D fall in love and end up together in the end.
I found it to be a well written story. It had all the usual elements of mafia stories. I felt the dystopia element was an unusual and interesting twist. I’m definitely interested to see what happens to Carlos and D after the end of this story so I plan to continue to the series. I would recommend it to those who like darker, dystopian, crime stories.
This story features a dystopian world, where society is run by the cartels. It’s a very corrupt world. Carlos Carmichael is the son of one of the crime bosses or heads of one of the cartels. When he sleeps with Dante Orsino, the underboss of one of the biggest families, it causes quite a problem. Dante finds a way to fix it that allows he and Carlos to be together. There is the usual crime aspect that you get in books that feature mafia stories. There is good action and lots of threat to lives. Both Dante, or D as he goes by, and Carlos are good guys in the story and don’t like the corrupt cartels. Carlos and D fall in love and end up together in the end.
I found it to be a well written story. It had all the usual elements of mafia stories. I felt the dystopia element was an unusual and interesting twist. I’m definitely interested to see what happens to Carlos and D after the end of this story so I plan to continue to the series. I would recommend it to those who like darker, dystopian, crime stories.
February 11, 2017
Great start to a series. A few odd word choices made it 4 for me. But I still really enjoyed it. Narrator was pretty darn good, too.
December 29, 2015
~I was given this book for an honest review~
I also gave this book a 3.5 star rating. While I love Mafia and MM books, this one didn't really do it for me. Nothing really stuck with me while reading it. I think the biggest part was just the neediness of Carlos. Before you criticize me let me explain...I realize he's younger, raised different than Dante and supposed to be his slave but I think it just threw me off. When I think of Mafia, i think of guys like Dante, who are in control and kill when needed. Carlos did redeem himself towards the end but it wasn't enough for me. I needed to see more I guess. He was very loyal to Dante, supported him with whatever he did, whether he believed him or not. I also realize that they had to hide their relationship, since it was frowned upon, but for some reason I didn't like Dante calling him, "his dirty little secret." It just made it sound like he didn't care about him at all. He did prove to him later that he did love him and was willing to put his life on the line for Carlos.
Review by Amy
I also gave this book a 3.5 star rating. While I love Mafia and MM books, this one didn't really do it for me. Nothing really stuck with me while reading it. I think the biggest part was just the neediness of Carlos. Before you criticize me let me explain...I realize he's younger, raised different than Dante and supposed to be his slave but I think it just threw me off. When I think of Mafia, i think of guys like Dante, who are in control and kill when needed. Carlos did redeem himself towards the end but it wasn't enough for me. I needed to see more I guess. He was very loyal to Dante, supported him with whatever he did, whether he believed him or not. I also realize that they had to hide their relationship, since it was frowned upon, but for some reason I didn't like Dante calling him, "his dirty little secret." It just made it sound like he didn't care about him at all. He did prove to him later that he did love him and was willing to put his life on the line for Carlos.
Review by Amy
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