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The Dark Elite #1
Vicious Kings
They say the devil goes by many names, and I know four of them:
Ciro, Hale, Zaid, and Lucas.
My father was once a powerful player in the Chicago underground, but six years ago, he left that life behind.
We changed our names.
Our identities.
Our lives.
The ghosts of the past never forgot him though. They never forgot me.
Dad promised me we were safe, but I should've known that was just another one of his lies.
The past always finds you, and mine finds me on my wedding day when four brutal, dangerous men drag me from the altar in a hail of gunfire.
Four men who used to be four boys.
Four boys I cared about.
Four boys I left behind.
They're not the same boys I knew though, and whatever we may have once been to each other, it doesn't matter anymore.
Because they're only one thing to me now:
My captors.
Vicious Kings is book one of The Dark Elite series. This is a reverse harem new adult dark romance series that includes high steam, violence, and foul language.
Ciro, Hale, Zaid, and Lucas.
My father was once a powerful player in the Chicago underground, but six years ago, he left that life behind.
We changed our names.
Our identities.
Our lives.
The ghosts of the past never forgot him though. They never forgot me.
Dad promised me we were safe, but I should've known that was just another one of his lies.
The past always finds you, and mine finds me on my wedding day when four brutal, dangerous men drag me from the altar in a hail of gunfire.
Four men who used to be four boys.
Four boys I cared about.
Four boys I left behind.
They're not the same boys I knew though, and whatever we may have once been to each other, it doesn't matter anymore.
Because they're only one thing to me now:
My captors.
Vicious Kings is book one of The Dark Elite series. This is a reverse harem new adult dark romance series that includes high steam, violence, and foul language.
280 pages, ebook
First published April 7, 2020
3663 people are currently reading
11870 people want to read
About the author
Eva Ashwood
49 books6,205 followersEva Ashwood has been a reader her whole life and a writer for several years. She loves telling stories of alpha males and the fierce women who bring them to their knees.
She's a sucker for reverse harem, bully romance, enemies to lovers, heroes who redeem themselves, and all the drama and passion of new adult love.
She's a sucker for reverse harem, bully romance, enemies to lovers, heroes who redeem themselves, and all the drama and passion of new adult love.
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April 10, 2020
While better than the last couple of series Eva Ashwood has released, this book is still nowhere near as good as her debut. I'm beginning to suspect that that one was a lucky one-off.
Here, we had a heroine so incredibly bland that I retain no memory of what she looks like. She also had no personality whatsoever. Case in point: she gets kidnapped from her wedding by four mafia men, and at least half the book passes before SHE REMEMBERS HER F*CKING FIANCE. What the hell, dude.
The plot is your standard rail-thin 'heroine kidnapped for revenge against her dad.' No new spins or twists on it. The heroes aren't too bad, I do at least remember what they look like, but I won't be reading the sequel. I may not be reading any more Eva Ashwood books full stop... maybe, disappointing though it is, I just have to accept that she peaked with her first series.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Here, we had a heroine so incredibly bland that I retain no memory of what she looks like. She also had no personality whatsoever. Case in point: she gets kidnapped from her wedding by four mafia men, and at least half the book passes before SHE REMEMBERS HER F*CKING FIANCE. What the hell, dude.
The plot is your standard rail-thin 'heroine kidnapped for revenge against her dad.' No new spins or twists on it. The heroes aren't too bad, I do at least remember what they look like, but I won't be reading the sequel. I may not be reading any more Eva Ashwood books full stop... maybe, disappointing though it is, I just have to accept that she peaked with her first series.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
July 16, 2020
Dnf at 40%
Heroine is weak and bland, she has no personality. Nothing really happens in the book, it was boring and too much inner POV. She kept thinking the same thing again and again that how the guys are so hot. So the story is about Grace who gets kidnapped by 4 guys, they used to be friends before and her dad used to be in the mafia before they fled. Now after 6 years the guys kidnaps her and her dad gets killed, she was about to get married. After getting kidnapped she literally doesnt think about her dead father or fiance rather she lusts over the hero’s. All she can talk about is that how hot they are now, and the hero’s make her do anything by using her lust for them. They touch and and she does whatever they say. It was just boring.
Heroine is weak and bland, she has no personality. Nothing really happens in the book, it was boring and too much inner POV. She kept thinking the same thing again and again that how the guys are so hot. So the story is about Grace who gets kidnapped by 4 guys, they used to be friends before and her dad used to be in the mafia before they fled. Now after 6 years the guys kidnaps her and her dad gets killed, she was about to get married. After getting kidnapped she literally doesnt think about her dead father or fiance rather she lusts over the hero’s. All she can talk about is that how hot they are now, and the hero’s make her do anything by using her lust for them. They touch and and she does whatever they say. It was just boring.
March 10, 2022
QUE HIJA DE RE MIL PUTA QUE ES LA AUTORA HERMANO CÓMO ME VA A BOLUDEAR CON EL TRÍO ENTRE GRACE Y LOS GEMELOS DURANTE TODO EL LIBRO, Y A LO ÚLTIMO CASI DARMELO PARA DESPUÉS SACARMELO NOOOOOOO QUIERO MATAR A ALGUIEN
El libro en sí es muy malo jajaja. La narración es demasiado básica, la protagonista no tiene personalidad (sin mencionar el hecho de que la secuestran en el medio de su boda, y piensa en su esposo y en su padre (a quien mataron ahí) unas... ¿2 veces?; y el hecho de que estaba a 2 minutos de casarse antes de que interrumpieran su boda no le molesta en lo más mínimo, teniendo en cuenta que se pasa todo el resto del libro excitada y haciendo cosas sexuales con sus "secuestradores"), y odio los libros que tratan de la mafia. Es la primera vez que leo un libro con un romance poligámico, y me pareció bastante interesante, aunque al mismo tiempo me rompió un poco las bolas que el que más tiempo está con ella, es el que menos me gusta de todos (Hale te odio bro, I don't like you at all). Lucas es mi fav sólo porque hay un capítulo narrado por él, cuando los demás tienen dos (aguante amar al underdog), Zaid es un bb sexy, y Ciro es literalmente un cinnamon roll. Hale can go fuck himself, honestly.
No pienso leer los siguientes libros; lo único que voy a hacer va a ser fijarme en el buscador las escenas de sexo, a ver si POR FIN hay un trío entre Grace y los gemelos (nueva fantasía sexual desbloqueada btw)
2 de 5 estrellas.
El libro en sí es muy malo jajaja. La narración es demasiado básica, la protagonista no tiene personalidad (sin mencionar el hecho de que la secuestran en el medio de su boda, y piensa en su esposo y en su padre (a quien mataron ahí) unas... ¿2 veces?; y el hecho de que estaba a 2 minutos de casarse antes de que interrumpieran su boda no le molesta en lo más mínimo, teniendo en cuenta que se pasa todo el resto del libro excitada y haciendo cosas sexuales con sus "secuestradores"), y odio los libros que tratan de la mafia. Es la primera vez que leo un libro con un romance poligámico, y me pareció bastante interesante, aunque al mismo tiempo me rompió un poco las bolas que el que más tiempo está con ella, es el que menos me gusta de todos (Hale te odio bro, I don't like you at all). Lucas es mi fav sólo porque hay un capítulo narrado por él, cuando los demás tienen dos (aguante amar al underdog), Zaid es un bb sexy, y Ciro es literalmente un cinnamon roll. Hale can go fuck himself, honestly.
No pienso leer los siguientes libros; lo único que voy a hacer va a ser fijarme en el buscador las escenas de sexo, a ver si POR FIN hay un trío entre Grace y los gemelos (nueva fantasía sexual desbloqueada btw)
2 de 5 estrellas.
January 10, 2022
DNF at 65%.
When an audiobook is only 6h long and I’m struggling for 6 days to finish it, I see no point to waste any more of my time.
I discovered a lot of incredible books, thanks to tiktok, in 2021. Majority were a huge hit for me, others, such as in this case, were huge disappointment. Maybe that’s why I’m as annoyed as I am, due to all the hype surrounding this one.
Time after time, this book is being described as dark and smutty. In what universe? The only explanation I could come up with was that if people read this book right after finishing Harry Potter. In which case, this book would rock your world, be dark and it would make you clutch your pearls.
All the elements for an exiting story is there:
- mafia
- multiple love interests
- kidnapping
- revenge plot
How do you mess this up?
There is a line in the book «Any sane person would have been terrified”. Then call me insane because this is bullshit. The heroine is “kidnapped” by dudes she knows from way back, who fuss and tiptoe around her, because she’s injured, assures her that they won’t harm her. And the heroine is all ooh, I’m shaking in my boots, while moping about how sexy their are in her inner monologues. She barely mentions her father, who died, or her fiancé. The only person who added anything good to this shit show was Daniel James Louse, who narrated male parts. The heroine sounded somewhat alive in the parts he read. As for Chloe Ryan, she just added to the snooze fest. The shooting scene in the church, heroine being kept tied to the bed and all the sex scenes are read in the same lifeless voice. Like come on, put some emotion into it! Ugh! She reads “my voice was harsh and strained.” and it makes me want to throw something at the wall, because it’s not.
So the heroine is suppose to be this bad ass mafia princes, but she’s as exiting as a brick of soap. There is nothing exiting or interesting about her character. What did the men saw in her? She had nothing to bring to the table. By men she’s described as this extraordinary person. Who were they talking about? The fact that female narrator’s voice had no life didn’t help the case.
There are 4 main characters in this story, you would think there would be a decent amount of dialogue. Nope. The majority of the book they’re all in their own heads. Even when they are all in the same room. This type of writing is infuriating and is one of the reason why I often DNF a book. They eat, they drive, have sex, shoot each other and everything is happening in their inner monologues. Can you imagine a scenario in real life where bunch of people coexist and barely talk? What an exiting life.
I don’t see myself reading any of Eva Ashwood’s books in the future.
When an audiobook is only 6h long and I’m struggling for 6 days to finish it, I see no point to waste any more of my time.
I discovered a lot of incredible books, thanks to tiktok, in 2021. Majority were a huge hit for me, others, such as in this case, were huge disappointment. Maybe that’s why I’m as annoyed as I am, due to all the hype surrounding this one.
Time after time, this book is being described as dark and smutty. In what universe? The only explanation I could come up with was that if people read this book right after finishing Harry Potter. In which case, this book would rock your world, be dark and it would make you clutch your pearls.
All the elements for an exiting story is there:
- mafia
- multiple love interests
- kidnapping
- revenge plot
How do you mess this up?
There is a line in the book «Any sane person would have been terrified”. Then call me insane because this is bullshit. The heroine is “kidnapped” by dudes she knows from way back, who fuss and tiptoe around her, because she’s injured, assures her that they won’t harm her. And the heroine is all ooh, I’m shaking in my boots, while moping about how sexy their are in her inner monologues. She barely mentions her father, who died, or her fiancé. The only person who added anything good to this shit show was Daniel James Louse, who narrated male parts. The heroine sounded somewhat alive in the parts he read. As for Chloe Ryan, she just added to the snooze fest. The shooting scene in the church, heroine being kept tied to the bed and all the sex scenes are read in the same lifeless voice. Like come on, put some emotion into it! Ugh! She reads “my voice was harsh and strained.” and it makes me want to throw something at the wall, because it’s not.
So the heroine is suppose to be this bad ass mafia princes, but she’s as exiting as a brick of soap. There is nothing exiting or interesting about her character. What did the men saw in her? She had nothing to bring to the table. By men she’s described as this extraordinary person. Who were they talking about? The fact that female narrator’s voice had no life didn’t help the case.
There are 4 main characters in this story, you would think there would be a decent amount of dialogue. Nope. The majority of the book they’re all in their own heads. Even when they are all in the same room. This type of writing is infuriating and is one of the reason why I often DNF a book. They eat, they drive, have sex, shoot each other and everything is happening in their inner monologues. Can you imagine a scenario in real life where bunch of people coexist and barely talk? What an exiting life.
I don’t see myself reading any of Eva Ashwood’s books in the future.
April 24, 2023
While a good premise and concept, this book started off strong. More was definitely needed in terms of context and character development, but it did make for a quick and easy read.
April 11, 2020
It kinda felt like I was watching a rated R teen film. I don’t even know how old these characters are, since there’s no details about them at all. But I’m interested enough to continue with this series...
Full review to come when it’s complete.
Full review to come when it’s complete.
April 14, 2020
I normally love Eva Ashwood’s reverse harem books but this one fell a little short for me. I loved the mafia elements, the mystery and suspense and the twists and turns but I didn’t believe the relationships between any of the characters. It was all sexual and I would have liked to have seen more of a romantic and emotional connection.
April 26, 2022
2.75 stars
Spoilery review:
Alright. I went into this book thinking it was a spicy, reverse-harem, mafia romance. I wasn't expecting much but that and well it still didn't deliver. The writing made all these 22+ year old characters feel a tad juvenile, like I genuinely didn't find it very in-character the way they spoke and thought. Also writing-wise, the smut didn't quite do what it was supposed to? I'm not entirely sure why, but I just didn't find myself invested in it at all and it felt kind of flat. I feel like these types of romance novels would benefit from being longer as well. Sure this way you can read them in 2-4 hours, but there's no romance, and even the lust/ attraction seem too contrived. There's no sexual tension, characters just go from 0 to 100 in seconds, there's no buildup to the smut or to any of the relationships. And I'm not just talking about this book specifically, but short novels in general. There still needs to be a believable relationship happening here. I mean the closest we came to it was with Ciro (who's my favourite because he was giving me major modern-Azriel-if-he-were-in-the-mafia vibes), but I still wasn't fully sold on it. The MC's father dies in like the second chapter as well and I get it that it's hugely traumatising to be immediately kidnapped after that, but damn she forgot about her beloved father dying in her arms quick! Also she keeps saying she needs to do whatever she can to survive to justify cheating on her fiancé with our four male leads, but they're not forcing her to sleep with them though. Like there's no reason for her to go around kissing them, really. She's their captive but they're not blackmailing her or coercing her into it. In fact she initiated several makeout sessions herself. So sweetheart, don't lie to me. You would've survived just fine without their tongues down your throat. And yes there's cheating here too. Which I didn't know about. And I'm honestly surprised at how this was written. Like she's in love with her fiancé. She says so herself, and yet she just throws herself at these four. And then at the end the fiancé betrays her and drugs her after he saves her. Like that man went from a sweet guy to the villain so fast I got whiplash. That's also an issue here for me. Maybe it's because we don't get to see any character development or any relationships, but many of the things that happen just seem too convenient for the plot. It's okay she cheated because turns out her fiancé was the bad guy all along! Like please, come on! This book had a lot of potential and I feel like had it been longer and more developed (and the cheating part scrapped) it would've been so good! But this way I was just losing interest and rolling my eyes every time the MC tried to justify jumping one of the guys. Might continue with this trilogy just to actually see some RH that I signed up for since in this one she was with each of them individually and we didn't see any group relationship dynamics, but I won't be picking it up anytime soon.
Spoilery review:
Alright. I went into this book thinking it was a spicy, reverse-harem, mafia romance. I wasn't expecting much but that and well it still didn't deliver. The writing made all these 22+ year old characters feel a tad juvenile, like I genuinely didn't find it very in-character the way they spoke and thought. Also writing-wise, the smut didn't quite do what it was supposed to? I'm not entirely sure why, but I just didn't find myself invested in it at all and it felt kind of flat. I feel like these types of romance novels would benefit from being longer as well. Sure this way you can read them in 2-4 hours, but there's no romance, and even the lust/ attraction seem too contrived. There's no sexual tension, characters just go from 0 to 100 in seconds, there's no buildup to the smut or to any of the relationships. And I'm not just talking about this book specifically, but short novels in general. There still needs to be a believable relationship happening here. I mean the closest we came to it was with Ciro (who's my favourite because he was giving me major modern-Azriel-if-he-were-in-the-mafia vibes), but I still wasn't fully sold on it. The MC's father dies in like the second chapter as well and I get it that it's hugely traumatising to be immediately kidnapped after that, but damn she forgot about her beloved father dying in her arms quick! Also she keeps saying she needs to do whatever she can to survive to justify cheating on her fiancé with our four male leads, but they're not forcing her to sleep with them though. Like there's no reason for her to go around kissing them, really. She's their captive but they're not blackmailing her or coercing her into it. In fact she initiated several makeout sessions herself. So sweetheart, don't lie to me. You would've survived just fine without their tongues down your throat. And yes there's cheating here too. Which I didn't know about. And I'm honestly surprised at how this was written. Like she's in love with her fiancé. She says so herself, and yet she just throws herself at these four. And then at the end the fiancé betrays her and drugs her after he saves her. Like that man went from a sweet guy to the villain so fast I got whiplash. That's also an issue here for me. Maybe it's because we don't get to see any character development or any relationships, but many of the things that happen just seem too convenient for the plot. It's okay she cheated because turns out her fiancé was the bad guy all along! Like please, come on! This book had a lot of potential and I feel like had it been longer and more developed (and the cheating part scrapped) it would've been so good! But this way I was just losing interest and rolling my eyes every time the MC tried to justify jumping one of the guys. Might continue with this trilogy just to actually see some RH that I signed up for since in this one she was with each of them individually and we didn't see any group relationship dynamics, but I won't be picking it up anytime soon.
February 24, 2021
Utterly ridiculous
This is the worst book I've read in a while and I truly wanted to like this book. It starts with her walking down the aisle to be married. Guys come in and kill her Dad and others. She's shot, kidnapped and taken away. Not even a full 24 hours later she doesn't know if her fiance is dead or alive and yet she's humping 4 dudes. Not mourning her Dad or fiance or worried about being shot in the abdomen. This is just the dumbest thing . I actually laughed out loud at what this author wanted us to believe. Save your time and your money. I really want to send the writer a bill and charge her for wasting my time.
This is the worst book I've read in a while and I truly wanted to like this book. It starts with her walking down the aisle to be married. Guys come in and kill her Dad and others. She's shot, kidnapped and taken away. Not even a full 24 hours later she doesn't know if her fiance is dead or alive and yet she's humping 4 dudes. Not mourning her Dad or fiance or worried about being shot in the abdomen. This is just the dumbest thing . I actually laughed out loud at what this author wanted us to believe. Save your time and your money. I really want to send the writer a bill and charge her for wasting my time.
August 19, 2024
Started strong but really not holding my interest 🫠😭
Fifty percent in nothing actually happened. By seventy percent, I was tired of the inner dialogue of the MFC, and by right percent, I was skipping. I think the writing was good but wasn't fond of the word drops here and there
This book has no substance other than sex scenes.. it is nothing like the synopsis suggests it would be. Hardly any dialogue and no fight from this girl that supposedly was born into the mafia and had a ton of grit. I feel bad for this, even though I shouldn’t.. but this book would have benefited from a content editor. It was sloppy.
Online audiobook 🎶
Fifty percent in nothing actually happened. By seventy percent, I was tired of the inner dialogue of the MFC, and by right percent, I was skipping. I think the writing was good but wasn't fond of the word drops here and there
This book has no substance other than sex scenes.. it is nothing like the synopsis suggests it would be. Hardly any dialogue and no fight from this girl that supposedly was born into the mafia and had a ton of grit. I feel bad for this, even though I shouldn’t.. but this book would have benefited from a content editor. It was sloppy.
Online audiobook 🎶
April 4, 2020
Lies, secrets, crime, lust, broken, strength, Steamy goodness, love??! I devoured this book in one sitting. It started with a bang! I was freaking glued to my seat. I wanted more, craved it. I turned the pages with excitement of what was to come. I couldn't get enough. I can't wait for the next book. I'm totally addicted to this read and the characters.
Read
September 14, 2020I can not get into reverse harems. No review.
February 6, 2024
2.5 ☆☆⊹
I was trying to get a feel for Eva Ashwood because I’ve never read anything by her before, and maybe I just picked up the wrong book, but I was not a huge fan of this one. It felt very surface level, not enough backstory, not enough relationship building, and heavy on the miscommunication.
I was trying to get a feel for Eva Ashwood because I’ve never read anything by her before, and maybe I just picked up the wrong book, but I was not a huge fan of this one. It felt very surface level, not enough backstory, not enough relationship building, and heavy on the miscommunication.
October 26, 2021
DNF @ 40%
So you watch your father (and possibly your fiance) get gunned down and killed in front of your eyes at your own wedding, then you get abducted by your former friends/possible lovers who very clearly hate you now and your reaction upon waking up is to ... try to fuck them one by one? Not try to kill them or be so uncooperative that they have to resort to more drastic methods to get information our of you or genuinely try to escape whenever you can but instead pathetically attempt to "escape" before being distracted by your kidnappers to the point of screwing them with no regard for anything else? Especially considering that she--at that point--thought that these were the men who were responsible for the mass slaughter (of her father!!!! who she didn't hate!!!! and possibly her fiance!!!) at her wedding (!!!) Am I supposed to buy that this is someone who grew up in the mafia and had a hard time adjusting to normal life because she didn't really mind her old one? Really?
Let me just not think about how she just ... forgot that she watched her father die in front of her because she was more interested in four dicks because. Nope.
Not that the men were any better. Oh they hate her but oh they crave her but oh how they can't stand her and her family but oh look at her breasts and her hips and how she looks tied up but oh she's the enemy JFC shut the fuck up. How she became the most hated enemy because of whatever her dad did when she was sixteen is beyond me. Nothing about what they were doing read like hate sex, it read more like people-who-didn't-want-to-share sex and really, shouldn't they have cared more about whoever the traitor was within their own organisation instead of holding a (should-have-been)traumatised person responsible for whatever her father did years ago? No, because why should logic ever apply here.
Whatever, they all suck and they're all boring, they probably deserve each other.
So you watch your father (and possibly your fiance) get gunned down and killed in front of your eyes at your own wedding, then you get abducted by your former friends/possible lovers who very clearly hate you now and your reaction upon waking up is to ... try to fuck them one by one? Not try to kill them or be so uncooperative that they have to resort to more drastic methods to get information our of you or genuinely try to escape whenever you can but instead pathetically attempt to "escape" before being distracted by your kidnappers to the point of screwing them with no regard for anything else? Especially considering that she--at that point--thought that these were the men who were responsible for the mass slaughter (of her father!!!! who she didn't hate!!!! and possibly her fiance!!!) at her wedding (!!!) Am I supposed to buy that this is someone who grew up in the mafia and had a hard time adjusting to normal life because she didn't really mind her old one? Really?
Let me just not think about how she just ... forgot that she watched her father die in front of her because she was more interested in four dicks because. Nope.
Not that the men were any better. Oh they hate her but oh they crave her but oh how they can't stand her and her family but oh look at her breasts and her hips and how she looks tied up but oh she's the enemy JFC shut the fuck up. How she became the most hated enemy because of whatever her dad did when she was sixteen is beyond me. Nothing about what they were doing read like hate sex, it read more like people-who-didn't-want-to-share sex and really, shouldn't they have cared more about whoever the traitor was within their own organisation instead of holding a (should-have-been)traumatised person responsible for whatever her father did years ago? No, because why should logic ever apply here.
Whatever, they all suck and they're all boring, they probably deserve each other.
April 3, 2021
Probably more like 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I may continue with this series.
The main problem I had with this book was how bland all the characters were. At the end, on of the guys comments on how he likes her mind more than her body, which made no sense because we learn NOTHING about this girl. She knew the four guys as kids but there was just no emotional connection because we learned so little about these characters and most of their interactions revolved around sex. I just wanted to see a bit more of an emotional connection. I thought the most interesting character backstory-wise was Ciro, but he is pretty absent from the story in general. I just needed a bit more character work.
The plot is also a bit dull but was better than the character stuff. This is a mafia romance and it's fairly paint by number. I don't say that to be rude, but I think most readers will probably be able to predict a lot of the plot twists. There is a big plot twist at the end that I found to be completely unsurprising. I think this book could have been a better experience for me even with the bad characterization if the plot had been a bit more interesting, but unfortunately, it was a little flat on both fronts.
Like I said, I could see myself continuing with this in the future. I'm still somewhat intrigued with Ciro as a character, even if I think Grace is a completely nothing character. I would also consider looking at some of this authors other series, this one was just kind of a miss for me.
The main problem I had with this book was how bland all the characters were. At the end, on of the guys comments on how he likes her mind more than her body, which made no sense because we learn NOTHING about this girl. She knew the four guys as kids but there was just no emotional connection because we learned so little about these characters and most of their interactions revolved around sex. I just wanted to see a bit more of an emotional connection. I thought the most interesting character backstory-wise was Ciro, but he is pretty absent from the story in general. I just needed a bit more character work.
The plot is also a bit dull but was better than the character stuff. This is a mafia romance and it's fairly paint by number. I don't say that to be rude, but I think most readers will probably be able to predict a lot of the plot twists. There is a big plot twist at the end that I found to be completely unsurprising. I think this book could have been a better experience for me even with the bad characterization if the plot had been a bit more interesting, but unfortunately, it was a little flat on both fronts.
Like I said, I could see myself continuing with this in the future. I'm still somewhat intrigued with Ciro as a character, even if I think Grace is a completely nothing character. I would also consider looking at some of this authors other series, this one was just kind of a miss for me.
March 16, 2020
Received Beta Read from Author for Honest Review, and I’m Allowed to Post a Review.
I Give this Book a 4/5 Star Rating.
Cliffhanger(?): Yes
Relationship Type: RH > Reverse Harem.
Heat: 3.5-4/5
Romance: 3/5
Drama: 3.5-4/5
Suspense: 3-3.5/5
Absolutely No Spoilers.
I Really enjoyed this book!
While this is a ‘common’ plot, not every plot will keep my attention, I did have a tiny issue here and there. But this Book IS in the Beta Stage NOT ARC, but honestly once I start reading this book it was very easy to immediately zone in and it definitely kept my attention. Grace is a very strong female and also very believable, and not over dramatic. I look forward to seeing what will be in store for her and the guys! :D
I Give this Book a 4/5 Star Rating.
Cliffhanger(?): Yes
Relationship Type: RH > Reverse Harem.
Heat: 3.5-4/5
Romance: 3/5
Drama: 3.5-4/5
Suspense: 3-3.5/5
Absolutely No Spoilers.
I Really enjoyed this book!
While this is a ‘common’ plot, not every plot will keep my attention, I did have a tiny issue here and there. But this Book IS in the Beta Stage NOT ARC, but honestly once I start reading this book it was very easy to immediately zone in and it definitely kept my attention. Grace is a very strong female and also very believable, and not over dramatic. I look forward to seeing what will be in store for her and the guys! :D
March 28, 2020
WHAT A START TO A NEW SERIES!! First off, if you have read any book by Eva then you know this is going to be good. She did not disappoint me. So we have mystery, betrayals, tragedies and love/lust. Grace is living her life and about to take another step when tragedy hits. Next thing she knows she is in a van with some very familiar eyes. Not just one set of familiar eyes but four! Say what! Yeah and this can't be good, right? Well what do you think will happen when you are taken by the mafia! Oh man this book does get steamy as the story builds. Be prepared to have your head spin cause I sure did not see some things coming. I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
April 7, 2020
Holy sweet Jesus
I have done nothing but read since I saw the book available and I can honestly say this might be my favorite from Eva Ashwood to date! I have been waiting on pins and needles for this book to be released and it has not disappointed at all!!!
The story and plot are smooth with so many twists you do not see coming, especially towards the end.
The guys, holy f*%#ing swoon worthy! I don’t have a favorite because they are all fire!!!
I am so stoked for book 2!!!
I have done nothing but read since I saw the book available and I can honestly say this might be my favorite from Eva Ashwood to date! I have been waiting on pins and needles for this book to be released and it has not disappointed at all!!!
The story and plot are smooth with so many twists you do not see coming, especially towards the end.
The guys, holy f*%#ing swoon worthy! I don’t have a favorite because they are all fire!!!
I am so stoked for book 2!!!
July 14, 2020
Intense. Intriguing. Deep.
The characters in the book have enough depth to make you love them while still leaving you questioning everything, leaving you wanting more information.
All 4 guys are distinctly different despite their common feelings for Grace, and I think each one will fill a different hole in Graces desires (no pun intended, or maybe it is 😉).
I'm curious to see where the story goes and which side the guys fall on in the end.
The characters in the book have enough depth to make you love them while still leaving you questioning everything, leaving you wanting more information.
All 4 guys are distinctly different despite their common feelings for Grace, and I think each one will fill a different hole in Graces desires (no pun intended, or maybe it is 😉).
I'm curious to see where the story goes and which side the guys fall on in the end.
October 29, 2021
Too long for what it is
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 21, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
November 3, 2022
I cooka da meatball
(in all seriousness though wtf was this)
(in all seriousness though wtf was this)
February 3, 2021
drop down to 3 stars. girl still be cracker bland. how the fckkkk did she end up this wack while GROWING UP IN THE MAFIA. where's a bad bitch when you need her? the hell was she sheltered? NO. WHY IS SHE LIKE THIS?! i can't even.
ugh. i just -
i can't seem to help myself right now. i was in a book slump for more than a month and here i am, back at it with SOME SMUTTY ASS TRASH THAT I NEED MORE OF.
honestly, like most of these, i'm here for the men cause i'm over these basic carbon copy women in these just being ... bland.
yes i said it, B-L-A-N-D.
like a cracker with no salt, no flavor, with nothing on it bland.
i said what i said and sorry not sorry.
but can we just talk about my baby ciro? cause fuuuuuuck.
my heart just weeps for my man. and i -
April 11, 2020
I love Eva and her writings. But I have to say that Vicious Kings has now become my favorite from her. I have kinda been going through a rough patch on reading, and I completely devoured this read in one setting. I was captured by the characters and the plot and i could not put down my kindle until the end. I was not to be interrupted.
In Vicious Kings we get a dark mafia romance rh that will be keeping you on your toes about what is going on. I connected to Grace as a character right off the bat. I was rooting for her and her dream of just a normal life. She was going so far as to marry someone that she somewhat loved. But when things go wrong on her wedding day, her life will forever be changed. Her saviors turn out to be her captors. Captors that she grew up with. Captors that she has a history with. But she must struggle with are they there to help her or hurt her? With betrayal all around who can she trust?
So honestly if you are looking for a good dark mafia read, well honestly if you are looking for a good read period, this book is for you. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Grace and the guys.
In Vicious Kings we get a dark mafia romance rh that will be keeping you on your toes about what is going on. I connected to Grace as a character right off the bat. I was rooting for her and her dream of just a normal life. She was going so far as to marry someone that she somewhat loved. But when things go wrong on her wedding day, her life will forever be changed. Her saviors turn out to be her captors. Captors that she grew up with. Captors that she has a history with. But she must struggle with are they there to help her or hurt her? With betrayal all around who can she trust?
So honestly if you are looking for a good dark mafia read, well honestly if you are looking for a good read period, this book is for you. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Grace and the guys.
March 21, 2020
4.5 stars
Oof, this book! These characters! Eva Ashwood delivers yet another RH hit, this time with a darker, mafia theme and I’m here for it.
We meet Grace on what’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, but it quickly takes a nosedive and the rest of the book is a rollercoaster of emotions, steam, and intrigue! Having grown up in the mafia lifestyle, Grace is no wallflower. She has steel in her bones, and she’s going to need it when she comes face to face with her once childhood friends, Hale, Ciro, Lucas, and Zaid.
The four are no longer the boys she once stood side by side with in her youth, but have turned into hardened mafia soldiers in a powerful syndicate. But even still, she’s able to catch glimpses into her former friends and once the cracks start to form, it doesn’t take long for all the walls to crumble.
Vicious Kings does a terrific job of setting up the foundation for this series and I am super excited to see where the story goes from here!
Oof, this book! These characters! Eva Ashwood delivers yet another RH hit, this time with a darker, mafia theme and I’m here for it.
We meet Grace on what’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, but it quickly takes a nosedive and the rest of the book is a rollercoaster of emotions, steam, and intrigue! Having grown up in the mafia lifestyle, Grace is no wallflower. She has steel in her bones, and she’s going to need it when she comes face to face with her once childhood friends, Hale, Ciro, Lucas, and Zaid.
The four are no longer the boys she once stood side by side with in her youth, but have turned into hardened mafia soldiers in a powerful syndicate. But even still, she’s able to catch glimpses into her former friends and once the cracks start to form, it doesn’t take long for all the walls to crumble.
Vicious Kings does a terrific job of setting up the foundation for this series and I am super excited to see where the story goes from here!
April 8, 2020
Okay, i have three other books by this author but i haven't read them yet but when i read the preview that it had. I knew i just had to get it. Good part on my own, i love it. Firstly we meet a young women named Grace who was the daughter of a mafia member. Her father and her raced out of the mafia and disappeared for many years and when her supposed to be the happiest day of her life, but it quickly takes a nosedive.
Then we meet the four handsome devils..... Hale the leader, Ciro the torturer, Zaid twin one and Lucas twin two. They mission to get her father and take him back to Hale's father. That turns out be be wrong, her father was killed when there was a shoot out at Grace's wedding. She was taken instead.
Now, you buy and read the rest for yourself. This is a good book. I can't wait for book 2 to come out.
Then we meet the four handsome devils..... Hale the leader, Ciro the torturer, Zaid twin one and Lucas twin two. They mission to get her father and take him back to Hale's father. That turns out be be wrong, her father was killed when there was a shoot out at Grace's wedding. She was taken instead.
Now, you buy and read the rest for yourself. This is a good book. I can't wait for book 2 to come out.
May 25, 2022
Uhhhh
Yeah so I’m trying to figure out after seeing some of these descriptive words being used for this book as “dark, intense, intriguing, hot, suspenseful “
Y’all, are we even reading the same book??
For a former mafia princess the h was 😴😴🥱. Still trying to figure out what makes her so fierce and strong, her dad gets shot and dies in her arms, she gets shot, but 24 hours later basically forgets about her dead father along with her fiancé, oh and that pesky little bullet hole that had to be stitched up - Because she’s too busy horn dogging it with the four guys she hates. Mmmmkay🙄
I would say about 65% in I almost DNF. Then there was a tiny little bit of spark that kept my interest get a few signs in the book made it pretty predictable.
Nothing was really 🥵 🔥
Except Ciro😈🫠
FML, this sucker has to read on 😳
Yeah so I’m trying to figure out after seeing some of these descriptive words being used for this book as “dark, intense, intriguing, hot, suspenseful “
Y’all, are we even reading the same book??
For a former mafia princess the h was 😴😴🥱. Still trying to figure out what makes her so fierce and strong, her dad gets shot and dies in her arms, she gets shot, but 24 hours later basically forgets about her dead father along with her fiancé, oh and that pesky little bullet hole that had to be stitched up - Because she’s too busy horn dogging it with the four guys she hates. Mmmmkay🙄
I would say about 65% in I almost DNF. Then there was a tiny little bit of spark that kept my interest get a few signs in the book made it pretty predictable.
Nothing was really 🥵 🔥
Except Ciro😈🫠
FML, this sucker has to read on 😳
September 12, 2021
Brutale Könige ist der erste Band der Dunkle Elite Reihe & der startet direkt mit einem Knall. Vor vielen Jahren ist Grace mit ihrem Vater vor der Mafia geflüchtet. Nun Jahre später will sie ihren Freund heiraten, doch dann beginnt dort eine Schießerei & sie wird entführt. Wir lernen Ciro, Hale, Zaid & Lucas kennen. Ich muss sagen das mir die 4 von Anfang an sympathisch waren. Jeder auf seine eigene Art und Weise. Man hat die Chemie zwischen den Charakteren sofort gespürt. Besonders hat mir hier gefallen das aus es aus jeder Sicht erzählt wurde & ich einen guten Einblick über die Charaktere erfahren konnten wie es ihnen in den Jahren davor ergangen ist & was mit Grace verbindet. Für mich ein gelungener Auftakt. Brutal, blutig, spannend, heiß & schmutzig.
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January 5, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/30/2020)! 🎁
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