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Vengeance Trilogy #1
Damien's Promise
Welcome to our corner of the underworld
where everything you love
can and will be used
to destroy you.
*****
She didn't just fall into the lap of the most ruthless criminal organization.
She crashed our party.
Bruised, battered, and broken - this innocent soul begged us to shed blood on her behalf.
For justice.
Retribution.
Vengeance.
Sweet, pure Adriana is the angel who was prepared to die for her revenge.
And I'm the demon who was raised to live for mine.
When I look at her, I see everything I didn’t have to lose.
I see my last chance at redemption.
She doesn't belong in my world, and I'll free her if it's the last thing I do.
Even if it means destroying everything she loves.
***************************************
The VENGEANCE Trilogy is a dark romance series (with strong suspense/thriller themes).
Each book is NOT a standalone (cliffhanger alert).
Other themes: crime, mercenary, (loosely) mafia, forbidden love, coming of age, revenge
**This book contains adult content intended for mature readers, including but not limited to graphic violence, potential triggers, and explicit sexual content.**
where everything you love
can and will be used
to destroy you.
*****
She didn't just fall into the lap of the most ruthless criminal organization.
She crashed our party.
Bruised, battered, and broken - this innocent soul begged us to shed blood on her behalf.
For justice.
Retribution.
Vengeance.
Sweet, pure Adriana is the angel who was prepared to die for her revenge.
And I'm the demon who was raised to live for mine.
When I look at her, I see everything I didn’t have to lose.
I see my last chance at redemption.
She doesn't belong in my world, and I'll free her if it's the last thing I do.
Even if it means destroying everything she loves.
***************************************
The VENGEANCE Trilogy is a dark romance series (with strong suspense/thriller themes).
Each book is NOT a standalone (cliffhanger alert).
Other themes: crime, mercenary, (loosely) mafia, forbidden love, coming of age, revenge
**This book contains adult content intended for mature readers, including but not limited to graphic violence, potential triggers, and explicit sexual content.**
608 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2019
72 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Vic Tyler
7 books100 followersVic Tyler is a new author of contemporary romance novels.
She likes to think she weaves intricate stories about complex characters who come to life, but that's the roundabout way of saying she writes too much and overshoots her estimated word count by 45%.
(See? Concision is very hard for her.)
So if you want a fantastic (and very hot) bang for your buck, you came to the right place.
When she's not writing, VT is a compulsive orange eater who's a little too obsessed with finding the right espresso-to-milk balance for her lattes.
She's fond of exploring all kinds of things (except caves), baking 'til her kitchen's a mess, and laughing at the questionably funny.
Oh, and she also enjoys doing puzzles, which is why you'll often find her breaking her characters' hearts and finding new ways to piece them together again.
*****
Keep up-to-date on her work (newsletter) → http://bit.ly/2XHFISx
Check out her
Website → https://victyler.com
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVicTyler/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/AuthorVicTyler/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/authorvicty...
Amazon → https://amazon.com/author/authorvictyler
She likes to think she weaves intricate stories about complex characters who come to life, but that's the roundabout way of saying she writes too much and overshoots her estimated word count by 45%.
(See? Concision is very hard for her.)
So if you want a fantastic (and very hot) bang for your buck, you came to the right place.
When she's not writing, VT is a compulsive orange eater who's a little too obsessed with finding the right espresso-to-milk balance for her lattes.
She's fond of exploring all kinds of things (except caves), baking 'til her kitchen's a mess, and laughing at the questionably funny.
Oh, and she also enjoys doing puzzles, which is why you'll often find her breaking her characters' hearts and finding new ways to piece them together again.
*****
Keep up-to-date on her work (newsletter) → http://bit.ly/2XHFISx
Check out her
Website → https://victyler.com
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVicTyler/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/AuthorVicTyler/
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/authorvicty...
Amazon → https://amazon.com/author/authorvictyler
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
June 3, 2019
ARC received by author in exchange for an honest review!
With the prologue I got scared, it gave me the fantasy feeling. I don't know why but I kept picturing Batman on a roof.. Why did this scare me? Because I love my romance more than I enjoy fantasy. Even though I enjoyed em in the past. But that stayed with the prologue. Even though I got a bit of a feeling that it took a bit to long with the explanations in the beginning.
I really enjoyed it and I got sucked into the story. If that wasn't clear I finished it in 2 days!
What bothered me a bit was that everyone kept saying how young and a child Adrianna was so naturally I didn't feel the romance. That came only when we got to the chapter when she was a bit older. Which I enjoyed maybe a bit more because I love my romance. There was a very very hot part that I truly admired Adrianna for because I would never dare to ask that. But after that scene he just ripped my heart out and stomped on it. That's also the part why Damien can never be a dreamy bbf for me. I can't forgive and forget such things. I know and understand the words but the actions afterwards speak very loud even though it wasn't meant as such..
I understand and kind of liked Kitty and the connection and friendship, but I also dislike her a huge part. So I'm not very sure about my true feelings about her.
Triggers are mentioned in the book:
With the prologue I got scared, it gave me the fantasy feeling. I don't know why but I kept picturing Batman on a roof.. Why did this scare me? Because I love my romance more than I enjoy fantasy. Even though I enjoyed em in the past. But that stayed with the prologue. Even though I got a bit of a feeling that it took a bit to long with the explanations in the beginning.
I really enjoyed it and I got sucked into the story. If that wasn't clear I finished it in 2 days!
What bothered me a bit was that everyone kept saying how young and a child Adrianna was so naturally I didn't feel the romance. That came only when we got to the chapter when she was a bit older. Which I enjoyed maybe a bit more because I love my romance. There was a very very hot part that I truly admired Adrianna for because I would never dare to ask that. But after that scene he just ripped my heart out and stomped on it. That's also the part why Damien can never be a dreamy bbf for me. I can't forgive and forget such things. I know and understand the words but the actions afterwards speak very loud even though it wasn't meant as such..
I understand and kind of liked Kitty and the connection and friendship, but I also dislike her a huge part. So I'm not very sure about my true feelings about her.
Triggers are mentioned in the book:
Read
June 4, 2019
Get ready to delve into the deep and dark world of Venti, where only the merciless survive.
Add Damien's Promise to your TBR now
June 6, 2019
Damien it’s a badass!
Adriana is amazing!
The fist few chapters were all about setting the scenes, they were a bit long
But totally worth the wait to get into the storyline.
Once I got into the book I couldn’t put it down! It was amazing really!
All the characters have there own personalities and stand out in there own.
I love a book that has a dark side end this definitely does , Damien is such a mess with this whole revenge/ love situation but I'm sure he's going to sort all that out and I live him in all his messed upness
Adriana is my hero in this book though I fell in love with her from the first mention of her and to read how she grows really hit me!
it ends on a cliff-hanger which is seriously going to drive me crazy until the next book is released.
5/5 rating it was amazing
Adriana is amazing!
The fist few chapters were all about setting the scenes, they were a bit long
But totally worth the wait to get into the storyline.
Once I got into the book I couldn’t put it down! It was amazing really!
All the characters have there own personalities and stand out in there own.
I love a book that has a dark side end this definitely does , Damien is such a mess with this whole revenge/ love situation but I'm sure he's going to sort all that out and I live him in all his messed upness
Adriana is my hero in this book though I fell in love with her from the first mention of her and to read how she grows really hit me!
it ends on a cliff-hanger which is seriously going to drive me crazy until the next book is released.
5/5 rating it was amazing
June 18, 2019
If you are looking for a safe, sweet fun read this is so not the book for you, this book is darkly brutal and will leave you shocked at times with the twists and turns the characters take. But I honestly loved everything about this book and the journey I have started with both of the main characters. I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC copy of this book. And this story is most definitely not safe and may have triggers.
This didn’t feel like your average mafia book to me and if I am honest the beginning of the book at first felt quite hard going and slow but once the story took off it was captivating and I could not put it down.
We follow Adrianna from the age of thirteen, sneaking in to the annual meeting of the four cardinals to beg for the deaths of the men who murdered her family and abused her until her escape. Taken in by West and his twelve she soon begins to flourish but she develops an attachment to Damien the man that is in line to one day take over from West as the Cardinal and looks upon West as a father figure to her. As the years pass her devotion to both men causes conflicts in a way she can never understand.
Damien is a tortured soul after witnessing his parents deaths and the horrific death of his sister he believed he could never feel again and with his success within the blood trials he is now on track to one day take over as Cardinal but when a frail little waitress descends into his world he cannot stop the protective feelings that she provokes and over time the love he feels but knowing she doesn’t belong in his world he will do whatever it takes to remove her from this life and keep her safe. But the best laid plans always go wrong and this is no exception.
Who will live and who will die in the grand scheme of things. Loved the secondary characters in this book although Kitty was a little hard to understand and she isn’t the easiest to like. I’m not really a fan of books with a cliff hanger but I cannot wait to carry on reading this adventure. Absolutely brilliant read highly recommended.
This didn’t feel like your average mafia book to me and if I am honest the beginning of the book at first felt quite hard going and slow but once the story took off it was captivating and I could not put it down.
We follow Adrianna from the age of thirteen, sneaking in to the annual meeting of the four cardinals to beg for the deaths of the men who murdered her family and abused her until her escape. Taken in by West and his twelve she soon begins to flourish but she develops an attachment to Damien the man that is in line to one day take over from West as the Cardinal and looks upon West as a father figure to her. As the years pass her devotion to both men causes conflicts in a way she can never understand.
Damien is a tortured soul after witnessing his parents deaths and the horrific death of his sister he believed he could never feel again and with his success within the blood trials he is now on track to one day take over as Cardinal but when a frail little waitress descends into his world he cannot stop the protective feelings that she provokes and over time the love he feels but knowing she doesn’t belong in his world he will do whatever it takes to remove her from this life and keep her safe. But the best laid plans always go wrong and this is no exception.
Who will live and who will die in the grand scheme of things. Loved the secondary characters in this book although Kitty was a little hard to understand and she isn’t the easiest to like. I’m not really a fan of books with a cliff hanger but I cannot wait to carry on reading this adventure. Absolutely brilliant read highly recommended.
June 11, 2019
ARC Generously Provided by Author
I absolutely loved this book!! Wow.
I'm not one to do a little summary of a book in my reviews. But I will say what I loved about it.
The plot was very unique to me. There's not really anything I can compare it to! It definitely has a mafia feel.. but still so different? It's also dark so just make sure you check out the triggers before choosing to read. It would stink if it got a bad review from someone who couldn't handle the content!
The characters were honestly perfect. There buildup was spot on. Damien was tortured and caring. Adriana was brave and fierce. I don't want to say to much and give anything away.. I went in blind and I suggest you guys do as well!
The ending wasn't what I considered a cliff hanger, but it does leave me excited for the next installment! I can't what to see where Damien and Adriana go from here!
This book is 500+ pages which is usually a bit on the long side for me, but I gobbled this up in 3 day!
I absolutely loved this book!! Wow.
I'm not one to do a little summary of a book in my reviews. But I will say what I loved about it.
The plot was very unique to me. There's not really anything I can compare it to! It definitely has a mafia feel.. but still so different? It's also dark so just make sure you check out the triggers before choosing to read. It would stink if it got a bad review from someone who couldn't handle the content!
The characters were honestly perfect. There buildup was spot on. Damien was tortured and caring. Adriana was brave and fierce. I don't want to say to much and give anything away.. I went in blind and I suggest you guys do as well!
The ending wasn't what I considered a cliff hanger, but it does leave me excited for the next installment! I can't what to see where Damien and Adriana go from here!
This book is 500+ pages which is usually a bit on the long side for me, but I gobbled this up in 3 day!
June 11, 2019
It's the second book I've read from this author and I'm officially hooked. Seriously it's going to be a problem for my mental health I can just see it. Cliffhangers are not for me. Yet!! I found myself drinking this dark sinful tale up like dehydrated grass patch in the summer. I was all over it like a fucking rash.
I cannot deal.
Dark romance is a hard topic to broach. It's so easy to get wrong, to be chaotic, cheesy or downright gross. There has to be a balance. That fine line of being wrong but also so right and I found this author balanced it all nicely.
A solid foundation is KEY. Without that the story is subpar at best. Luckily though this author has all the fine details locked down. She spins a tale so all consuming your sucked in before you even realise what's happening and before you know it you're four chapters in and craving more.
This is a trilogy. Three books, each with their own very important part to play. So yes.. CLIFFY alert. Your not getting your happy ending just yet bbs. This is just the beginning, laying the foundation for what's to come. Giving us the back story on how and why they got to this point. The character development and story progression is just fucking delicious. Vic peels those layers back breaking it down and building them back up ready for what's to come.
Your not getting your HOT NASTY ROMANCE.. well not the kind you'd expect. There is a few triggers so if you're sensitive to a lot when reading and you're curious hit me up and I'll fill you in on what could possibly be a problem for you.
Damien is a antihero if ever I've read one. The man has more issues than your average killer so expect crazy. He's arrogant with asshole tendencies and a huge chip on his shoulder. The boy got a lot to learn but going in he's a man child so the growth for him is real.
Adriana is not what your expecting. She's resilient, hardened to the world..BUT, she has a light that someone with her demons shouldn't have. She is hell of a character!. But that's all I'm saying so I don't slip up.
Holy mother of side characters.. you are hitting the lottery of physcopsthic lunatics here. I'm not joking. That's me being nice. They are fucking nuts. Yet... you will love them by the end. Seriously you won't believe me now but I'm telling you!. It takes a special kind of author to get you to love this dysfunctional bunch a crazies.
So to wrap up...
Conflicted emotions, unpredictable characters, turmoil, suspense and heartbreak. A tale of growth, learning, love and a fucked up kind of happy. It's forbidden but you can't help loving it. It's just the beginning but I feel like already there is so much.. so many feelings it's hard to truly articulate what your feeling.
Meh... I need the next instalment. Fuck my life this is going to be the longest wait ever.
Why did I do it to myself. I hate cliffhangers. But I NEED what's next.
I cannot deal.
Dark romance is a hard topic to broach. It's so easy to get wrong, to be chaotic, cheesy or downright gross. There has to be a balance. That fine line of being wrong but also so right and I found this author balanced it all nicely.
A solid foundation is KEY. Without that the story is subpar at best. Luckily though this author has all the fine details locked down. She spins a tale so all consuming your sucked in before you even realise what's happening and before you know it you're four chapters in and craving more.
This is a trilogy. Three books, each with their own very important part to play. So yes.. CLIFFY alert. Your not getting your happy ending just yet bbs. This is just the beginning, laying the foundation for what's to come. Giving us the back story on how and why they got to this point. The character development and story progression is just fucking delicious. Vic peels those layers back breaking it down and building them back up ready for what's to come.
Your not getting your HOT NASTY ROMANCE.. well not the kind you'd expect. There is a few triggers so if you're sensitive to a lot when reading and you're curious hit me up and I'll fill you in on what could possibly be a problem for you.
Damien is a antihero if ever I've read one. The man has more issues than your average killer so expect crazy. He's arrogant with asshole tendencies and a huge chip on his shoulder. The boy got a lot to learn but going in he's a man child so the growth for him is real.
Adriana is not what your expecting. She's resilient, hardened to the world..BUT, she has a light that someone with her demons shouldn't have. She is hell of a character!. But that's all I'm saying so I don't slip up.
Holy mother of side characters.. you are hitting the lottery of physcopsthic lunatics here. I'm not joking. That's me being nice. They are fucking nuts. Yet... you will love them by the end. Seriously you won't believe me now but I'm telling you!. It takes a special kind of author to get you to love this dysfunctional bunch a crazies.
So to wrap up...
Conflicted emotions, unpredictable characters, turmoil, suspense and heartbreak. A tale of growth, learning, love and a fucked up kind of happy. It's forbidden but you can't help loving it. It's just the beginning but I feel like already there is so much.. so many feelings it's hard to truly articulate what your feeling.
Meh... I need the next instalment. Fuck my life this is going to be the longest wait ever.
Why did I do it to myself. I hate cliffhangers. But I NEED what's next.
June 19, 2019
Damien's Promise is the first book of a trilogy. We learn about the Venti and how the Cardinals and The Twelve control the underworld. Damien has been a part of this underworld since his family was brutally murdered. Damien has been planning to murder Cardinal Westlake for years. He's becoming stronger and lethal to reach his goal. A chink is thrown his way by Adriana a girl he feels protective over. She reminds him of his sister who died. Damien looks out for her thinking that the Twelve and other Deviants would hurt her. But Adriana has worked her magic on everyone and they have all become fond of her. Adriana develops a crush on Damien and he decides to leave and further his goals. There are several plot twists, betrayals, and misunderstandings that causes everything to collapse for the Western faction. Adriana is now set on revenge against Damien and I think she will be a force to be reckoned with. Ready for the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 22, 2019
Wow....next please
Some how imagine Meghan March, Titan, and Rachel Van Dyken ‘s “Eagle Elite” series mixed together with some added psychopaths and you might get close to understanding the wonderful work this book is.
No Spoilers
Vic Tyler did an amazing job of creating an “underground” world of characters that the reader in turn could, love, hate, cheer, boo and beg for more. I would absolutely read a book about each of the “Western 12”. This is just the first in the trilogy but I can only hope for some off shoot books about these complex characters.
Please do not be deterred by the page count of this book. I could not put it down. It reads fast and there were only approximately two writing errors that I found early on that are easy to glide over.
The plot is tight the character arcs are still on the upswing and I can not wait for the next book.
Some how imagine Meghan March, Titan, and Rachel Van Dyken ‘s “Eagle Elite” series mixed together with some added psychopaths and you might get close to understanding the wonderful work this book is.
No Spoilers
Vic Tyler did an amazing job of creating an “underground” world of characters that the reader in turn could, love, hate, cheer, boo and beg for more. I would absolutely read a book about each of the “Western 12”. This is just the first in the trilogy but I can only hope for some off shoot books about these complex characters.
Please do not be deterred by the page count of this book. I could not put it down. It reads fast and there were only approximately two writing errors that I found early on that are easy to glide over.
The plot is tight the character arcs are still on the upswing and I can not wait for the next book.
June 11, 2019
Vic Tyler is the author of several beautifully written romances that I've had the pleasure of enjoying this year. The Vengeance Series, beginning with this new release, Damien's Promise, is her 1st foray into another, quite different genre, dark. I LOVE DARK!!! Can I just say- WOW- she's hit a grand slam, out of the ball park with Damien's Promise.
Damien, is a strong, smart and hardened 18 year old hitman at the beginning of this intricately crafted underworld themed story where danger lurks in almost every corner. Their all encompassing organization, Venti, is a complicated criminal hierarchy, which has operated for countless years by capturing and training the unwanted and broken of society into deviants and killers. Venti has their bloody hands in everything, controlling and pulling the strings whether seen or not. Their unofficial motto- 'weakness is fatal', their power, indisputable.
Damien was captured as a young teen after his family was murdered with only him left standing. Over the 5 years since, he has risen in the Western Faction's ranks to a top position with just one goal in mind- make the person ultimately responsible pay with his own life. So, when a 13 year old waif of a girl brazenly enters into their world asking the powerful Cardinal of the Western Faction for retribution for her family's murder and atrocities against herself, the caring part of him, hidden behind his anti-hero armor, finds another meaning for himself...Adriana's vigilant protector. With her age and 5 years between them, sisterly affection is all he could ever feel for her, but he will have to keep these emotions locked down tight, it's the only way to rise to the top in Venti. A distraction could get you killed or have someone you care for be used as a weapon against you because of your own weakness. If Damien wants to keep her out of this sick twisted life in their criminal world...his work is certainly cut out for him. Adriana is a little spitfire already and as the story progresses, she becomes who's she's meant to be. I loved her intelligence and strength while learning to cope in this bizarre world she now inhabits. She was resilient and mature beyond her years.
Here's one Damien quote I especially loved but I found myself highlighting so many passages in this phenomenal book!
'Sweet. Pure. Clean. Adriana. The angel already came broken, and if she stays, we’ll end up drowning her wings in blood, bearing down on her when she should be able to fly free. She’s shackled and chained —a prisoner of the devil, no matter how much he dresses her up and feeds her delicacies. She only thinks she wants to stay here, but she doesn’t know the truth about us. The extent of our depravity and our callousness to what other people would call ‘evil.’ If only she knew, she’d cry for her own soul.'
How could I not love Damien??? Can a ruthless killer be a good man under all his hidden layers? YES, I believe he can but he will be challenged to keep all of his promises- to his dead family, himself and the impossible one to Adriana.
His counterparts in crime are a vibrantly described array of very unique characters- sexy sociopaths, mentally disturbed maniacs, a mentor who makes him work for hard in every battle, a way too curious doctor and the old man with the chessboard who leads them all...but who will be left standing when all the pawns have been played in Westlake Manor?
This wildly exciting book, which takes place and builds over a 5 year span, is where where loyalties are tested, changes can happen in a heartbeat, controlled chaos reigns and death and destruction are never far away. Woven with mysterious intrigue and heartstopping scenes, it will have you second guessing every plot twist, every characters motives...EVERYTHING!!!
It ends with a BIG cliffhanger and many questions left unanswered but that's why you'll want to mark your calendars for the next book..I know it'll be soooo worth it.
I'll leave you with this last quote:
Right now, she can see right from wrong, white from black, good from evil. But if she loses sight of that, or worse, chooses our path…I’ll have to make sure she’s kept away from the worst of us. To prevent any of this from tainting her. Because the only thing worse than an angel trying to save a demon is the angel becoming a demon herself.'
*There are many 'triggers' which I feel the author has bent over backwards to explain and warn sensitive readers about, so, if descriptions of violence and other dark themes are too much for you, this is probably not the book for you. BUT, if you are a dark loving reader like me, I hope you enjoy this well written and creatively thought out book/series.
I was honored and thrilled to have been a beta reader for this book and couldn't believe how Vic SO totally nailed this on her freshman journey into darkness. Even the earliest copy was outstanding. Vic, your talent for this genre has floored me and I will be waiting so patiently to see how Vengeance continues in Adriana's Temptation!
An advanced copy was generously provided and thoroughly enjoyed. This is my honest review of it.
Damien, is a strong, smart and hardened 18 year old hitman at the beginning of this intricately crafted underworld themed story where danger lurks in almost every corner. Their all encompassing organization, Venti, is a complicated criminal hierarchy, which has operated for countless years by capturing and training the unwanted and broken of society into deviants and killers. Venti has their bloody hands in everything, controlling and pulling the strings whether seen or not. Their unofficial motto- 'weakness is fatal', their power, indisputable.
Damien was captured as a young teen after his family was murdered with only him left standing. Over the 5 years since, he has risen in the Western Faction's ranks to a top position with just one goal in mind- make the person ultimately responsible pay with his own life. So, when a 13 year old waif of a girl brazenly enters into their world asking the powerful Cardinal of the Western Faction for retribution for her family's murder and atrocities against herself, the caring part of him, hidden behind his anti-hero armor, finds another meaning for himself...Adriana's vigilant protector. With her age and 5 years between them, sisterly affection is all he could ever feel for her, but he will have to keep these emotions locked down tight, it's the only way to rise to the top in Venti. A distraction could get you killed or have someone you care for be used as a weapon against you because of your own weakness. If Damien wants to keep her out of this sick twisted life in their criminal world...his work is certainly cut out for him. Adriana is a little spitfire already and as the story progresses, she becomes who's she's meant to be. I loved her intelligence and strength while learning to cope in this bizarre world she now inhabits. She was resilient and mature beyond her years.
Here's one Damien quote I especially loved but I found myself highlighting so many passages in this phenomenal book!
'Sweet. Pure. Clean. Adriana. The angel already came broken, and if she stays, we’ll end up drowning her wings in blood, bearing down on her when she should be able to fly free. She’s shackled and chained —a prisoner of the devil, no matter how much he dresses her up and feeds her delicacies. She only thinks she wants to stay here, but she doesn’t know the truth about us. The extent of our depravity and our callousness to what other people would call ‘evil.’ If only she knew, she’d cry for her own soul.'
How could I not love Damien??? Can a ruthless killer be a good man under all his hidden layers? YES, I believe he can but he will be challenged to keep all of his promises- to his dead family, himself and the impossible one to Adriana.
His counterparts in crime are a vibrantly described array of very unique characters- sexy sociopaths, mentally disturbed maniacs, a mentor who makes him work for hard in every battle, a way too curious doctor and the old man with the chessboard who leads them all...but who will be left standing when all the pawns have been played in Westlake Manor?
This wildly exciting book, which takes place and builds over a 5 year span, is where where loyalties are tested, changes can happen in a heartbeat, controlled chaos reigns and death and destruction are never far away. Woven with mysterious intrigue and heartstopping scenes, it will have you second guessing every plot twist, every characters motives...EVERYTHING!!!
It ends with a BIG cliffhanger and many questions left unanswered but that's why you'll want to mark your calendars for the next book..I know it'll be soooo worth it.
I'll leave you with this last quote:
Right now, she can see right from wrong, white from black, good from evil. But if she loses sight of that, or worse, chooses our path…I’ll have to make sure she’s kept away from the worst of us. To prevent any of this from tainting her. Because the only thing worse than an angel trying to save a demon is the angel becoming a demon herself.'
*There are many 'triggers' which I feel the author has bent over backwards to explain and warn sensitive readers about, so, if descriptions of violence and other dark themes are too much for you, this is probably not the book for you. BUT, if you are a dark loving reader like me, I hope you enjoy this well written and creatively thought out book/series.
I was honored and thrilled to have been a beta reader for this book and couldn't believe how Vic SO totally nailed this on her freshman journey into darkness. Even the earliest copy was outstanding. Vic, your talent for this genre has floored me and I will be waiting so patiently to see how Vengeance continues in Adriana's Temptation!
An advanced copy was generously provided and thoroughly enjoyed. This is my honest review of it.
June 24, 2019
I absolutely loved this book and was honored to have been able to read and review. It was such a phenomenal read and had amazing characters as well as an amazing story line. I just could not get enough of it and once I started reading it I could not put it down. I recommend that you read it.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
June 26, 2019
A Dark Twisty Story with a Slow Burn Romamce
This story is new territory for Vic, and it was amazing! Damien was raised to be an immoral assassin after his own family and life were ripped away from him! His backstory was heartbreaking as was Adriana!
The world development is fascinating and descriptive! The system of the underground is full of psychos and sociopaths. The development of this world stylistically reminded me of Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season (which j love & adore), but there is not a paranormal element in Damien’s Promise! Just feel character development, an intricate plot, and suspense!
To me, something that sets this story apart is the timing. It takes place over five years. We see Adriana go from the abused, malnourished 13-year-old to a well-trained woman of 18! In her development and aging, I as a reader stopped feeling wrong about the slow budding romance between her and Damien! The romance I really wanted! Lol
Despite Damien’s job and claim to no morals, he was her protector from the beginning! Never as anything more or inappropriate. But once she's legal, that's a different story!
This is book one, and it concentrates on world building and character development!! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the rest!!
This story is new territory for Vic, and it was amazing! Damien was raised to be an immoral assassin after his own family and life were ripped away from him! His backstory was heartbreaking as was Adriana!
The world development is fascinating and descriptive! The system of the underground is full of psychos and sociopaths. The development of this world stylistically reminded me of Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season (which j love & adore), but there is not a paranormal element in Damien’s Promise! Just feel character development, an intricate plot, and suspense!
To me, something that sets this story apart is the timing. It takes place over five years. We see Adriana go from the abused, malnourished 13-year-old to a well-trained woman of 18! In her development and aging, I as a reader stopped feeling wrong about the slow budding romance between her and Damien! The romance I really wanted! Lol
Despite Damien’s job and claim to no morals, he was her protector from the beginning! Never as anything more or inappropriate. But once she's legal, that's a different story!
This is book one, and it concentrates on world building and character development!! I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the rest!!
June 11, 2019
Damien's Promise was a gritty and dark read for me. It was annihilating and addicting at the same time. God, I loved Damien as much as I hated him for his foolish behavior. Kudos to Adrianna for her portrayal of a strong force ready to bring downca fucker like Damien to his knees.
Initially I was quite skeptical of this book but I am so glad to pick it up eventually. It was sexy, dangerous, triggering and pushed all the buttons in a right way.
Yes, I felt certain things unnecessarily included or may be dragged. It was confusing at times but it only added to the deadly setting. I was lost during first few chapters but as the story progressed, it sucked me into a black hole, so deep, it was hard to look back. I am looking forward to Adrianna's Temptation, Book 2. I need to see the delicious ways Damien and Ria plays out their desires.
Thank you for the arc, dear.
Initially I was quite skeptical of this book but I am so glad to pick it up eventually. It was sexy, dangerous, triggering and pushed all the buttons in a right way.
Yes, I felt certain things unnecessarily included or may be dragged. It was confusing at times but it only added to the deadly setting. I was lost during first few chapters but as the story progressed, it sucked me into a black hole, so deep, it was hard to look back. I am looking forward to Adrianna's Temptation, Book 2. I need to see the delicious ways Damien and Ria plays out their desires.
Thank you for the arc, dear.
June 4, 2019
This book is very dark and as lots of triggers I found myself sucked infrom the very beginning to see how it planned out adriana winterfell is thrusted in to this ugly world after witnessing the brutal murder of her family heal bent on revenge seeks help from cardinal Westlake the leading mobsters to the little did she know she would be under the protection of damien who is just as broken and hell bent on Revenge and promises to protect her at all cost and help her get out of this life style but will he get them both killed or will maybe they will both save each other. Brilliantly dark read loved it
June 10, 2019
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I downloaded this book as Vic Tyler is a new-to-me author, but I was completely blown away with the intricate storyline and the quality of this author’s writing. Vengeance is dark, twisted, and full of action and suspense which is sure to keep you entertained until the very end and leave you craving for more. Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but I believe that was more of my mindset than the author’s writing. Once I got past the 8% mark, I was fully engaged and only my kindle dying from a dead battery would have pulled me away.
Venti is a crime syndicate - “a body of mercenary criminal consultants” where weakness fatal and violence is a given. Damien is a member of the venti and while he has gone through many trials and tribulations within the Venti and is a skilled killer, he still manages to hold onto as much of his humanity as possible. I love that while he is out for revenge, he is also very protective of Adrianna. Adrianna is a strong heroine who is full of spunk, determination, and resilience and I enjoyed watching the affect that she had on others. Both characters experienced great loss and suffered from great horrors and both are survivors.
Damien’s Promise is full of complex, damaged characters that have their strengths and their flaws. This book is told from a dual POV which I think really helped with character development and in learning to understand the thought processes behind Adrianna’s and Damien’s actions seeing as they both pull some bone-headed things. This novel spans over 5 years so it was interesting to watch how the two went from being more like siblings to Adrianna having a teenage crush to them both having mutual attraction towards each other. So while I would categorize this specific book in the Vengeance trilogy as a suspense, I would not call it a romantic suspense, but I do see the potential for books 2 and 3 to have more of a romantic albeit a dark romance aspect to them. Damien’s Promise is full of action, twists and turns, and shocking revelations which kept me entertained until the very end. Seeing as this is book 1 in a trilogy, there are questions that are not fully answered and there is quite the cliffhanger. It should also be noted that is a dark suspense so there are potential triggers that the author mentions in the blurb such as violence, discussion of sexual abuse, and explicit (consensual and of age) sexual situations. I received Damien’s Promise for free and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Venti is a crime syndicate - “a body of mercenary criminal consultants” where weakness fatal and violence is a given. Damien is a member of the venti and while he has gone through many trials and tribulations within the Venti and is a skilled killer, he still manages to hold onto as much of his humanity as possible. I love that while he is out for revenge, he is also very protective of Adrianna. Adrianna is a strong heroine who is full of spunk, determination, and resilience and I enjoyed watching the affect that she had on others. Both characters experienced great loss and suffered from great horrors and both are survivors.
Damien’s Promise is full of complex, damaged characters that have their strengths and their flaws. This book is told from a dual POV which I think really helped with character development and in learning to understand the thought processes behind Adrianna’s and Damien’s actions seeing as they both pull some bone-headed things. This novel spans over 5 years so it was interesting to watch how the two went from being more like siblings to Adrianna having a teenage crush to them both having mutual attraction towards each other. So while I would categorize this specific book in the Vengeance trilogy as a suspense, I would not call it a romantic suspense, but I do see the potential for books 2 and 3 to have more of a romantic albeit a dark romance aspect to them. Damien’s Promise is full of action, twists and turns, and shocking revelations which kept me entertained until the very end. Seeing as this is book 1 in a trilogy, there are questions that are not fully answered and there is quite the cliffhanger. It should also be noted that is a dark suspense so there are potential triggers that the author mentions in the blurb such as violence, discussion of sexual abuse, and explicit (consensual and of age) sexual situations. I received Damien’s Promise for free and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
June 3, 2019
Being the first book in the Vengeance Trilogy, Damien’s Promise is a violent, scarring look into the seedy underbelly of the criminal world. With murder and destruction on almost every page this book promises to hold the readers attention. There were several trigger warnings that I felt were not necessary as there were not specific details given in the more horrific crimes. This book does not start out hot and heavy but takes awhile for a natural affection to develop among the broken characters, and yes in this book there is not a single character that is not damaged. Damien’s Promise is worth the five stars I’m rating it and I can’t wait for the next book Adriana’s Temptation due out this year.
Adriana Wintrehall is thrust into the ugly world of organized crime at a young age. Finally escaping and making her way to the one man that she feels can help her, Adriana confronts Cardinal Westlake of the west coast faction. Westlake agrees to help Adriana but in doing so he uses her to train one of his Twelve, train him to not show affection, or caring or any emotion. Damien Zephyrus has been with the Venti for years now, and after watching his parents and little sister die all he wants is revenge. Waiting till the day he can kill Westlake; Damien trains and does his missions like a good pup. When Westlake puts Damien in charge of looking after Adriana, he finds himself feeling more than he has in years. He wants to protect the little waif and get her away from the Venti to give her a normal life. Damien’s Promise of protection just might save Adriana, or it might kill them both in the process.
Adriana Wintrehall is thrust into the ugly world of organized crime at a young age. Finally escaping and making her way to the one man that she feels can help her, Adriana confronts Cardinal Westlake of the west coast faction. Westlake agrees to help Adriana but in doing so he uses her to train one of his Twelve, train him to not show affection, or caring or any emotion. Damien Zephyrus has been with the Venti for years now, and after watching his parents and little sister die all he wants is revenge. Waiting till the day he can kill Westlake; Damien trains and does his missions like a good pup. When Westlake puts Damien in charge of looking after Adriana, he finds himself feeling more than he has in years. He wants to protect the little waif and get her away from the Venti to give her a normal life. Damien’s Promise of protection just might save Adriana, or it might kill them both in the process.
June 17, 2019
Exactly the kind of dark romance I've been craving for a while now!
I don't know what I was expecting when I started my ARC of Damiens Promise by Vic Tyler - an author I'd never read before and that was completely new to me. But WOW, did she knock this out of the park! Damien's Promise is probably my best dark read of 2019 so far.
"Weakness is fatal. Those words are more than a warning.
They are a threat.
They are law."
Set in a crime underworld where pain, punishment and bloodshed is religion, the book centres around the Western area of the world. It's divided into 4 sectors, each having their own leader - Northridge, Eastwood, Southwick and Westlake. The last is the man you'll love to hate and hate to love in this book.
I would like to stress that this book is in NO WAY PARANORMAL OR FANTASY! It's very much set in a HUMAN world.
Our hero (or anti-hero even) is complex, and scarred and beautifully fucked up. Young, suspicious and incredibly strong and talented, Damien will have you sweating, swooning, aroused and a tad bit afraid all at the same time.
"What does that say about me? I’m not really sure. And honestly, I don’t fucking care."
"And that’s what tonight is. Rebirth. Revival. Resurrection.
I was born Damien Costa. I was blood–christened as one of many nameless deviants.
And now, I am Damien Zephyrus of the western faction’s Twelve.
But don’t get comfortable with it."
I know, right?! HAWTTT! 🔥🔥🔥
Adriana was many things and I don't think I truly know how to describe her. She's gutsy as hell to do what she did. The girl has a major pair of balls on her. I can salute her for that. For the lengths and how far out of her comfort zone she went for her long overdue vengeance. I'm so pumped and absolutely aching for book 2, Adriana's Temptation to release. I'm hoping to get more into her head and thought process and see A LOT more of her in the future. Judging from the teasing glimpse I got in the end of book 1, Adriana really toughness up and holds her own against Damien - the man she melted for once - and you'll see her true strength in book 2. I can't wait!
I don't know what I was expecting when I started my ARC of Damiens Promise by Vic Tyler - an author I'd never read before and that was completely new to me. But WOW, did she knock this out of the park! Damien's Promise is probably my best dark read of 2019 so far.
"Weakness is fatal. Those words are more than a warning.
They are a threat.
They are law."
Set in a crime underworld where pain, punishment and bloodshed is religion, the book centres around the Western area of the world. It's divided into 4 sectors, each having their own leader - Northridge, Eastwood, Southwick and Westlake. The last is the man you'll love to hate and hate to love in this book.
I would like to stress that this book is in NO WAY PARANORMAL OR FANTASY! It's very much set in a HUMAN world.
Our hero (or anti-hero even) is complex, and scarred and beautifully fucked up. Young, suspicious and incredibly strong and talented, Damien will have you sweating, swooning, aroused and a tad bit afraid all at the same time.
"What does that say about me? I’m not really sure. And honestly, I don’t fucking care."
"And that’s what tonight is. Rebirth. Revival. Resurrection.
I was born Damien Costa. I was blood–christened as one of many nameless deviants.
And now, I am Damien Zephyrus of the western faction’s Twelve.
But don’t get comfortable with it."
I know, right?! HAWTTT! 🔥🔥🔥
Adriana was many things and I don't think I truly know how to describe her. She's gutsy as hell to do what she did. The girl has a major pair of balls on her. I can salute her for that. For the lengths and how far out of her comfort zone she went for her long overdue vengeance. I'm so pumped and absolutely aching for book 2, Adriana's Temptation to release. I'm hoping to get more into her head and thought process and see A LOT more of her in the future. Judging from the teasing glimpse I got in the end of book 1, Adriana really toughness up and holds her own against Damien - the man she melted for once - and you'll see her true strength in book 2. I can't wait!
June 12, 2019
ARC received by author in exchange for an honest review!
Okay so at first I wasn't to sure about this book, I just couldn't get into it I was about 25% of the way in before I was like okay I'm liking this now.
Damien of Damien I'm really really really loving this man.
West I knew right from the get go who he was had him nailed from the beginning and when it all came out I did the happy dance and was like oh yeah I knew it.
Oh I also really really loved Kitty I love a twisted mind and I can see myself being her all the way
I loved this story and I am really really excited about reading the next book.
I will say I wasn't to sure how it was all going to be any kind of sexy anything until that little bedroom scene then I was all on board. Love love love a man that gives orders.
Okay so at first I wasn't to sure about this book, I just couldn't get into it I was about 25% of the way in before I was like okay I'm liking this now.
Damien of Damien I'm really really really loving this man.
West I knew right from the get go who he was had him nailed from the beginning and when it all came out I did the happy dance and was like oh yeah I knew it.
Oh I also really really loved Kitty I love a twisted mind and I can see myself being her all the way
I loved this story and I am really really excited about reading the next book.
I will say I wasn't to sure how it was all going to be any kind of sexy anything until that little bedroom scene then I was all on board. Love love love a man that gives orders.
June 12, 2019
I’m so blown away by this book.
Vic Tyler is a new author for me but officially a one click!
The beginning is complex and loaded with a lot of information/backstory...be patient.
Once you get passed that, it takes off. The world building is awesome. The characters are deep, complicated and so real.
Heed the trigger warnings..dark reads are my jam so it was heavenly bliss for me.
I highly recommend you giving this read a try.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5 - cliffhanger
Series~ Vengeance
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Vic Tyler is a new author for me but officially a one click!
The beginning is complex and loaded with a lot of information/backstory...be patient.
Once you get passed that, it takes off. The world building is awesome. The characters are deep, complicated and so real.
Heed the trigger warnings..dark reads are my jam so it was heavenly bliss for me.
I highly recommend you giving this read a try.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5 - cliffhanger
Series~ Vengeance
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
June 9, 2019
ARC review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 10 stars awesome story damien costa now damien zephyrus wants revenge for his family joins the western faction of the venti deviants assassin's . Under West the cardinal Westlake. there is kitty, the butcher, richter, the chameleon, jura, turan, Andre the gaint, ubo, And two others of the 12 assassins . When adriana wintrehall a 13 yr old girl enters there hall asking for revenge against the men that killed her family and hurt her these assassin's took her in. There is so many story's in a story but easy to follow and you get to know each person and why . Awesome
June 9, 2019
This is the first book of a series and is not a complete story on its own.
Damien is part of a mafia group .They train many of them from young age. His family was killed by mafia,so they took him under their wings.
Adriana ,the same happened to her. Her whole family was attacked and murdered in front of her . They turn her to the sex slave.
Yes,it’s sick.
Adriana and Damien growing up together and learn to care and protect her. She had a big crush on him.
This is a really interesting story ,it will give a lot of background so we can just understand next books as they come.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Damien is part of a mafia group .They train many of them from young age. His family was killed by mafia,so they took him under their wings.
Adriana ,the same happened to her. Her whole family was attacked and murdered in front of her . They turn her to the sex slave.
Yes,it’s sick.
Adriana and Damien growing up together and learn to care and protect her. She had a big crush on him.
This is a really interesting story ,it will give a lot of background so we can just understand next books as they come.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2019
Damien's Promise is the first book in the Vengeance Trilogy by Vic Tyler. This well written, fast-paced, edge of your seat dark romance thriller will have you turning the pages to see how the story unfolds. Damien's Promise is full of suspense, action, twists and turns, revenge, redemption, danger, violence, steamy sex, and so much more.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
June 12, 2019
ARC Received From The Author For An Honest Review
I thought the first half of the book went by really slowly but the second half of the book was fast paced and exciting. I would give the first half of the book 3 stars and the second half 4 stars. I wanted there to be more romance from the two main characters. The book ends on a cliffhanger so I would definitely read the second book to see where Vic takes the characters.
I thought the first half of the book went by really slowly but the second half of the book was fast paced and exciting. I would give the first half of the book 3 stars and the second half 4 stars. I wanted there to be more romance from the two main characters. The book ends on a cliffhanger so I would definitely read the second book to see where Vic takes the characters.
June 7, 2019
This is the first book of a series and is not a complete story on its own. Damien is part of a mafia group that trains many of them from children. His family was killed when he was young and he was put into training. Adriana is a child whose whole family was attacked and murdered in front of her and then she was abused as a sex slave. This has several years of Adriana growing up (with a huge crush on Damien) and Damien learning to care about her, but protect her. This is a really interesting story, the way the factions interact and whatnot. The book had to give a lot of background to really build the world so we can understand it.
June 9, 2019
This is my first book to read from Vic have to say I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Loved Damien and Adrianne story. It's dark and twisted that will draw you in that will have you flipping to the next page to see what will happen next. Plus fill with some steamy moments. Cant say any more with give you spoilers and i dont do them. A must read,I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy. Bring on the next one Vic
Warning cliffhanger
Warning cliffhanger
June 13, 2019
This book is a well written complicated story. I enjoyed reading it. The only thing lacking for me is the hot sex scenes and the actual romance. The chemistry and romance is on the edge but lacking. This fairly long book should have lots of heated scenes and the romance should be more prominent rather than just in the background out of reach. This is of course my personal preference.
June 19, 2019
I’ve read a few books by Vic Tyler and this is absolutely my favorite one. It’s a change of pace from what I’ve read from her previously cause this one was darker then I’ve seen her write and was much more gritty and intense. I hope I get much more like this one in the near future!
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced readers copy of this book
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced readers copy of this book
June 6, 2019
A brutal and mind-blowing book that ends in a cliffhanger but the action is so intense, it was a welcome one :). I'm so looking forward to the next book because I love the twisted way the author wrote this book. It wasn't the violence or the horrific details that got me. It was the subtle nuances of secrets, deceit, betrayal and mystery that plays out in every scene in the story making you wonder just who really is pulling the strings making everyone in this book a puppet serving the master. This book is worthy of more stars than I'm allowed to give. Regardless, I highly recommend and I can't wait to read more.
June 21, 2019
Venti controls all the factions of the crime families North South East and West the only way out is death. Damien is one of 12 high ranking in the West syndicate who is one of the dangerous unfeeling mercenaries who has been given the task of watching over and protecting Adrianna a 12year broken abused surviour from a wealthy shady family from the deviants and the Vent.
The characters are complex their back stories are sad, brutal and as the story continues you understand the depths of depravity of the life around them. As time passes and the dramatics shift and this dysfunctional brutal environment alters as Adrianna starts to think of them as her family and protectors, until it all shatters around her.
Highly recommended read. I can't wait for the next book to continue to follow some many of the souless characters.
The characters are complex their back stories are sad, brutal and as the story continues you understand the depths of depravity of the life around them. As time passes and the dramatics shift and this dysfunctional brutal environment alters as Adrianna starts to think of them as her family and protectors, until it all shatters around her.
Highly recommended read. I can't wait for the next book to continue to follow some many of the souless characters.
June 24, 2019
Loved Damien & Adrienne's story. Good characters. I couldn't put it down. It's dark & a bit twisted. Also ends on a cliffhanger...can't wait for more. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book via an arc program.
June 9, 2019
First time to read this author and I must say I was surprised! Enjoyable read! Dark and gritty! Exciting and intense! Has me curious about what’s to come? Looking forward to the next installment!!
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