Kelsie Rae is an incredible writer, all of her books are vivid, raw, believable and handle horrifically brutal subjects in such a way that you root for justice to be served. Bitter Queen is the fourth book in the Advantage Play series, and this is a series that I have completely and utterly binge read, reading each and every book in one sitting. The characters are so real and imaginative, that you can picture their every move, quirks and flaws clearly in your mind, and when they hurt, as a reader you feel thar pain and it cuts deep.
Bitter Queen is the story of Diece and Queena. If you’ve read the series before, you will already be acquainted with their backstories, if you are reading as a stand-alone, you will be catapulted straight into their drama and completely immersed in the brutal mafia world of the Romano’s.
Q has been abused, beaten and considers herself nothing more than a broken, damaged woman with baggage. But when Diece looks at her, he sees nothing but true beauty, and a bravery he is in awe of. Tasked as her protector, he is determined to not only keep her safe, but make sure she feels safe. He is willing to share his own vulnerabilities with her, in exchange for building trust, and their relationship is beautiful and completely captivating.
Q looks at Diece like he hung the moon, she is hesitant and afraid, and deep down she is uncertain if she can trust him. But he has a way of breaking down her walls and making her feel like she can be more, and she struggles to interpret what life with a mafia bad boy would be like.
I adored this story, I love how throughout Diece never makes Q feel like the victim she has been, he idolises her and would walk through fire to ensure she is safe, and she may have been vulnerable physically to her attacker; but I love how Diece can be vulnerable emotionally when it comes to Q, and it’s such a beautiful concept and he is a very admirable and bold book hero.
Q is strong and her willingness to continue through her journey despite feeling depleted is inspiring, and she is a character that you constantly root for to have and seek justice. She is brave, bold, strong and badass.
This book contains some themes that some readers may be sensitive too, but the plot is gripping, action-packed and filled with a tonne of suspense that has me hooked and page-turning. Rae never fails to amaze me with this series, and I am so excited to get stuck into Black Jack the fifth book of the series.
A perfect read for those who love mafia tropes, or hard hitting romances with strong alpha heroes. An utterly amazing book that has floored me.