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City of Stars #1
Kiss of War
They call this place the City of Stars.
Ironic if you ask me.
City of Soul-Sucking Black Holes seems much more fitting.
A safe haven for the wealthy and corrupt.
A sewer of vice and sin.
Leonardo Bianchi burns the darkest and shines the brightest of all.
My lover turned foe.
Four years ago, my family ruined his, and his tongue got sharper than his jaw. His eyes fostered demons solely reserved for me. They craved to own my soul.
And for the longest time, I took it, I bore his cruelty alone.
But then... then I grew thorns of my own.
And now?
Now it's time for his torment to taste my kiss of war.
Kiss of War is a complete standalone and a part of the City of Stars series.
Ironic if you ask me.
City of Soul-Sucking Black Holes seems much more fitting.
A safe haven for the wealthy and corrupt.
A sewer of vice and sin.
Leonardo Bianchi burns the darkest and shines the brightest of all.
My lover turned foe.
Four years ago, my family ruined his, and his tongue got sharper than his jaw. His eyes fostered demons solely reserved for me. They craved to own my soul.
And for the longest time, I took it, I bore his cruelty alone.
But then... then I grew thorns of my own.
And now?
Now it's time for his torment to taste my kiss of war.
Kiss of War is a complete standalone and a part of the City of Stars series.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2021
510 people are currently reading
9250 people want to read
About the author
Clara Elroy
9 books553 followersClara Elroy is an Amazon Top 100 best selling author of romance novels that make your heart clench. Her love for reading began when she was a young girl, and would lose sleep because she wanted to read "just one more page."
Clara lives for reading and writing about flawed and relatable characters. She loves making sparks fly between stubborn men and the badass women that make them kneel.
When Clara's not typing away at her computer, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or writing biographies in the third person.
Yeah, she's cool like that.
Keep up with Clara on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ https://bit.ly/3bXFjkN
Reader group ➜ https://bit.ly/3p4aOgJ
Instagram ➜ https://bit.ly/2Y1FnI4
Facebook ➜ https://bit.ly/2McHmXj
Clara lives for reading and writing about flawed and relatable characters. She loves making sparks fly between stubborn men and the badass women that make them kneel.
When Clara's not typing away at her computer, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or writing biographies in the third person.
Yeah, she's cool like that.
Keep up with Clara on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ https://bit.ly/3bXFjkN
Reader group ➜ https://bit.ly/3p4aOgJ
Instagram ➜ https://bit.ly/2Y1FnI4
Facebook ➜ https://bit.ly/2McHmXj
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
March 14, 2021
What a page-turner!
Kiss of War by Clara Elroy is the first book in a series of standalones, and holy shit, I’m in love! This was so good, and I have a lot to say, so brace yourselves for a rundown.
First things first, where do I find myself a Leo? The MMC in this story is as dreamy as he is infuriating. Alpha assholes are my kind of heroes, but alpha assholes that are fluent in sarcasm, have a dirty mouth, and will cut down anyone that harms their girl? Yeah… you can say I’m a wee bit obsessed. 😭 Leonardo Bianchi just climbed atop of my book boyfriend list.
I adored Eliana! The FMC was so real and raw! I loved how she wasn’t different. Yes, you read that right. She wasn’t different. She was like every other badass woman in the world, that is doing her best to survive the shitty things life throws her way. If there’s one thing I hate the most is when FMCs are painted as these perfect creatures, that can do no wrong, but this wasn’t the case here. Flaws were very much a part of this story and it made it all the more interesting.
These characters had such depth, and I really appreciated that. Emotion jumped out through the pages, and I felt their struggle, fears, and ups and downs. Clara Elroy also managed to scare the shit out of me with this book. I went into it thinking I would just get a normal romance book, but she threw in a sprinkle of suspense that had me at the edge of my seat!
And talk about ✨spiceeee✨ whoosh!! Here’s a little line from the book that will sum it up perfectly:
“That was just the appetizer, Narcissus. Do you really go to a five star-restaurant, not expecting a full course meal?”
Ms. Elroy freaking served me with all the goods. She didn’t have to go that hard, but she did, and that’s why this book ended up becoming one of my all-time faves. If you’re looking for clean romance then I suggest you don’t read this book because it’s positively filthy.
I can’t wait for the next book! I’m hooked on these characters and this world!
PS: For all my Greek mythology lovers, this is a modern day Narcissus X Echo retelling with a twist! I’ve never read anything like it before. 10/10 would recommend.
Kiss of War by Clara Elroy is the first book in a series of standalones, and holy shit, I’m in love! This was so good, and I have a lot to say, so brace yourselves for a rundown.
First things first, where do I find myself a Leo? The MMC in this story is as dreamy as he is infuriating. Alpha assholes are my kind of heroes, but alpha assholes that are fluent in sarcasm, have a dirty mouth, and will cut down anyone that harms their girl? Yeah… you can say I’m a wee bit obsessed. 😭 Leonardo Bianchi just climbed atop of my book boyfriend list.
I adored Eliana! The FMC was so real and raw! I loved how she wasn’t different. Yes, you read that right. She wasn’t different. She was like every other badass woman in the world, that is doing her best to survive the shitty things life throws her way. If there’s one thing I hate the most is when FMCs are painted as these perfect creatures, that can do no wrong, but this wasn’t the case here. Flaws were very much a part of this story and it made it all the more interesting.
These characters had such depth, and I really appreciated that. Emotion jumped out through the pages, and I felt their struggle, fears, and ups and downs. Clara Elroy also managed to scare the shit out of me with this book. I went into it thinking I would just get a normal romance book, but she threw in a sprinkle of suspense that had me at the edge of my seat!
And talk about ✨spiceeee✨ whoosh!! Here’s a little line from the book that will sum it up perfectly:
“That was just the appetizer, Narcissus. Do you really go to a five star-restaurant, not expecting a full course meal?”
Ms. Elroy freaking served me with all the goods. She didn’t have to go that hard, but she did, and that’s why this book ended up becoming one of my all-time faves. If you’re looking for clean romance then I suggest you don’t read this book because it’s positively filthy.
I can’t wait for the next book! I’m hooked on these characters and this world!
PS: For all my Greek mythology lovers, this is a modern day Narcissus X Echo retelling with a twist! I’ve never read anything like it before. 10/10 would recommend.
Read
April 9, 2021Have you read the blurb? It’s very intriguing!!!
The plot was engaging, angsty, sexy and catching, the characters well developed.
My main issue was that it was taking a lot of pages for the story to unfold and while I wanted to read it so much, I was slightly weary so I dnf @ 47%.
Also a few scenes and dialogues didn’t feel right for me.
Regardless, I had the feeling the twists and turns that were about to emerge were going to be amazing! 🤷🏻♀️
Note:
Food for thought...
“Leo ran his fingers through my hair, and before I knew it, we were looking at each other, sharing the same air. My breath hitched, and my eyes closed as his mouth dove to mine, seeping from my lips.
I gasped when he sucked my bottom lip in his mouth, drinking in my surprise. He pried my lips open with his tongue, and an unfamiliar sound burst out of me, same as the ones the girls in mom’s movies made when they finally got to kiss their hero.”
In this scene,”
Leo was 11 y.o. and Eliana 10 y.o. in this scene, when they shared their first kiss.
The plot was engaging, angsty, sexy and catching, the characters well developed.
My main issue was that it was taking a lot of pages for the story to unfold and while I wanted to read it so much, I was slightly weary so I dnf @ 47%.
Also a few scenes and dialogues didn’t feel right for me.
Regardless, I had the feeling the twists and turns that were about to emerge were going to be amazing! 🤷🏻♀️
Note:
Food for thought...
“Leo ran his fingers through my hair, and before I knew it, we were looking at each other, sharing the same air. My breath hitched, and my eyes closed as his mouth dove to mine, seeping from my lips.
I gasped when he sucked my bottom lip in his mouth, drinking in my surprise. He pried my lips open with his tongue, and an unfamiliar sound burst out of me, same as the ones the girls in mom’s movies made when they finally got to kiss their hero.”
In this scene,”
Leo was 11 y.o. and Eliana 10 y.o. in this scene, when they shared their first kiss.
June 5, 2022
(3,5 stars)
"What the fuck happened to your face? Who did it?" Leo hissed.
"Why? Would you avenge my honor?" I goaded.
"Who did it, Eliana? Tell me, and they´re fucking dead."
This is a two POV book, told from the POV´s of Eliana and Leonardo.
Eliana was an interesting FMC, I honestly can´t say if I liked or disliked her. She felt really slippery at times and sometimes I had the feeling that she wasn´t any better than any of the others she claimed were bad. I really loved the sexual tension her and Leo had though, it honestly was through the roof. This is a bully romance with the trope also being friends to enemies to lovers. We even have a "who did this to you" trope as you can see in the quote. So the tropes and the tension in this were elite. The sex scenes were good, Leo is quite the dirty talker. I wouldn´t necessary say that this was a sweet romance, but there was chemistry.
Ragarding side characters I don´t have much to say because there honestly weren´t that many likable ones. I liked Cole, and that was about it. Eliana (Eli) doesn´t seem to have any friends and she is quite the lone wolf. Even Cole is only mentioned in a few scenes.
Leo also seems to have little friends, so also not many side characters on his side of the story. The one friend he has doesn´t seem to have that much depth to him and also didn´t have a proper backstory. The plot of this is mostly just about Leo and Eli. But I am hopeful I will get more of the sidecharacters backstories in future books of the series.
Plotwise it was really good and I loved the concept of it. I even could somehow understand Leo´s hatred in the beginning towards Eliana and I loved the plot twists in this book. Although I think Eliana forgave him a little too early and too easy for all his bullying, I really liked the plot otherwise. I liked the mystery part to it, it really added to the book. The pacing felt good, not too quick or too slow, although the mystery felt a little too easy solved towards the ending.
Overall it was a good book that I enjoyed reading. The plot was good with a lot of flawed characters. With that I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, drugs, alcoholism, murder, bullying, rape (mentioned), sex traffic (mentioned), rehab
Edit: After thinking about it the whole night, I have to bump the rating down to 3,5 stars.
"What the fuck happened to your face? Who did it?" Leo hissed.
"Why? Would you avenge my honor?" I goaded.
"Who did it, Eliana? Tell me, and they´re fucking dead."
This is a two POV book, told from the POV´s of Eliana and Leonardo.
Eliana was an interesting FMC, I honestly can´t say if I liked or disliked her. She felt really slippery at times and sometimes I had the feeling that she wasn´t any better than any of the others she claimed were bad. I really loved the sexual tension her and Leo had though, it honestly was through the roof. This is a bully romance with the trope also being friends to enemies to lovers. We even have a "who did this to you" trope as you can see in the quote. So the tropes and the tension in this were elite. The sex scenes were good, Leo is quite the dirty talker. I wouldn´t necessary say that this was a sweet romance, but there was chemistry.
Ragarding side characters I don´t have much to say because there honestly weren´t that many likable ones. I liked Cole, and that was about it. Eliana (Eli) doesn´t seem to have any friends and she is quite the lone wolf. Even Cole is only mentioned in a few scenes.
Leo also seems to have little friends, so also not many side characters on his side of the story. The one friend he has doesn´t seem to have that much depth to him and also didn´t have a proper backstory. The plot of this is mostly just about Leo and Eli. But I am hopeful I will get more of the sidecharacters backstories in future books of the series.
Plotwise it was really good and I loved the concept of it. I even could somehow understand Leo´s hatred in the beginning towards Eliana and I loved the plot twists in this book. Although I think Eliana forgave him a little too early and too easy for all his bullying, I really liked the plot otherwise. I liked the mystery part to it, it really added to the book. The pacing felt good, not too quick or too slow, although the mystery felt a little too easy solved towards the ending.
Overall it was a good book that I enjoyed reading. The plot was good with a lot of flawed characters. With that I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
trigger warnings: loss of loved ones, drugs, alcoholism, murder, bullying, rape (mentioned), sex traffic (mentioned), rehab
Edit: After thinking about it the whole night, I have to bump the rating down to 3,5 stars.
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June 21, 2021
The book was annoying. The heroine was annoying. The hero was an ass.
Nothing much besides that.
Not safe, both not celibate after meeting.
This was so not for me, heroine lost her virginity at 15 with a man twice her age 😬 and was into casual sex.
Nothing much besides that.
Not safe, both not celibate after meeting.
This was so not for me, heroine lost her virginity at 15 with a man twice her age 😬 and was into casual sex.
March 22, 2021
5 "NARCISSA & ECHO" STARS
A Kiss of War was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and I was so not disappointed. I can't believe this was Clara's first work, the writing was so poetic and it was such a page turner that when it ended I still wanted more. This book had so many elements I love like the enemies to lovers trope, angst, mystery, STEAM, romance, drama and a bit of a Romeo & Juliet vibe with the whole opposing families plot.
This book was the love story between Eliana Roux and Leonardo Bianchi. The killer's daughter and the victim's brother, those two were so not meant to be. There were so many obstacles and feelings in their way. They had so much history but it was tainted with hate, guilt, jealousy and lies. They were in complete opposites sides but the love and chemistry they felt since they were younger doesn't go away that easily.
"He was the king of the city and she was the villain."
"Maybe in a better word, we could've made us work."
Eliana. She has been carrying the weight of her family sins for so long, suffering but staying in the side lines trying not to draw even more attention to herself. Sometimes I thought she didn't have a backbone but when she realized enough was enough and started to stand up for herself, she went all the way and it was amazing. She was strong but vulnerable. Unrelenting but selfless. Resentful but forgiving. She was human and I loved her flaws and all. She went through so much and felt for and with her.
"Leo broke whatever version of me he could get his hands on."
Leonardo. In the beginning of the story I had mixed feelings when it came to him since he was a jerk most of the time but I loved that it didn't take long for us to start seeing glimpses of the boy behind the loss and vengeance. He could be mean? yes. But when it mattered he was always there giving her the support and time she needed. He had his sweet moments, his jealous and possessive moments, his protective ones...He had so many amazing moments that I started to forget the mask he put on in the beginning because by the end, the love he had for her was all that mattered.
"Hating Eliana required effort. It didn't come naturally."
This book had the perfect burn in my opinion, it was slower going but oh so spicy. Leo knew what he was doing and it was HOT!!! Those two together had so much frustration and chemistry. I liked when they were getting along and I liked when they were fighting. I actually loved all their moments. The cute, the funny, the angsty, the happy... It didn't matter in which, the love was always there and the push and pull was definitely a plus.
"For as long as I can remember, you've always been in my life. Friend, lover, foe. I've gotten every side of you."
The writing in this book was amazing, I loved how the author added a little of greek mythology in it and all the small random references throughout the book made my reading experience so much more entertaining. I laughed, cried, swooned, got mad and happy and basically felt everything the characters went through and I have to say the graduation speech was EPIC. This book was an incredible debut and I can't wait to see what Clara's comes up with next!!!
*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
A Kiss of War was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and I was so not disappointed. I can't believe this was Clara's first work, the writing was so poetic and it was such a page turner that when it ended I still wanted more. This book had so many elements I love like the enemies to lovers trope, angst, mystery, STEAM, romance, drama and a bit of a Romeo & Juliet vibe with the whole opposing families plot.
This book was the love story between Eliana Roux and Leonardo Bianchi. The killer's daughter and the victim's brother, those two were so not meant to be. There were so many obstacles and feelings in their way. They had so much history but it was tainted with hate, guilt, jealousy and lies. They were in complete opposites sides but the love and chemistry they felt since they were younger doesn't go away that easily.
"He was the king of the city and she was the villain."
"Maybe in a better word, we could've made us work."
Eliana. She has been carrying the weight of her family sins for so long, suffering but staying in the side lines trying not to draw even more attention to herself. Sometimes I thought she didn't have a backbone but when she realized enough was enough and started to stand up for herself, she went all the way and it was amazing. She was strong but vulnerable. Unrelenting but selfless. Resentful but forgiving. She was human and I loved her flaws and all. She went through so much and felt for and with her.
"Leo broke whatever version of me he could get his hands on."
Leonardo. In the beginning of the story I had mixed feelings when it came to him since he was a jerk most of the time but I loved that it didn't take long for us to start seeing glimpses of the boy behind the loss and vengeance. He could be mean? yes. But when it mattered he was always there giving her the support and time she needed. He had his sweet moments, his jealous and possessive moments, his protective ones...He had so many amazing moments that I started to forget the mask he put on in the beginning because by the end, the love he had for her was all that mattered.
"Hating Eliana required effort. It didn't come naturally."
This book had the perfect burn in my opinion, it was slower going but oh so spicy. Leo knew what he was doing and it was HOT!!! Those two together had so much frustration and chemistry. I liked when they were getting along and I liked when they were fighting. I actually loved all their moments. The cute, the funny, the angsty, the happy... It didn't matter in which, the love was always there and the push and pull was definitely a plus.
"For as long as I can remember, you've always been in my life. Friend, lover, foe. I've gotten every side of you."
The writing in this book was amazing, I loved how the author added a little of greek mythology in it and all the small random references throughout the book made my reading experience so much more entertaining. I laughed, cried, swooned, got mad and happy and basically felt everything the characters went through and I have to say the graduation speech was EPIC. This book was an incredible debut and I can't wait to see what Clara's comes up with next!!!
*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
March 14, 2021
I'm going to start this review by saying, I can't believe that this is Clara's debut book!
I finished reading this in one sitting! Idk how, but the author managed to weave suspense, angst, sexiness and the right amount of romantic moments perfectly!
This is probably one of the spiciest books I've ever read. It wasn't so much so the amount of steamy scenes, because this was a slow burn, but it was the way they were written that made me blush a thousand shades and wish I had someone like Leo lol.
Talking about Leo, omg!! The MMC in this story was fucking perfect! With bully/enemies to lovers romances, I really hate when heroes don't have a good enough reason for being mean, but I totally got why Leo was the way he was. My boy was truly broken and I really felt for him. He was a sarcastic god, and the dialogue was gold!
I freaking loved Eliana! She was such a welcome break from every other heroine! She was so real and flawed, I connected with her on a deeper level. You could feel her emotions through the pages, the anticipation and suspense! She went through so much and my heart ached for her! Eli was seriously so strong, and didn't hold back when it came to telling it like it is! She gave Leo a run for his money.
Also I adored the writing in this book! Like I said, I can't believe this is Clara Elroy's debut novel! It read more like she has been writing for years now! The flow was perfect and the metaphors were amazing. I highlighted so many passages!
Can we talk about all the other characters as well? God, every character was so fleshed out, and you got a feel of their personality immediately! I cannot freaking wait until we read about Ares and Saint! 😭
I finished reading this in one sitting! Idk how, but the author managed to weave suspense, angst, sexiness and the right amount of romantic moments perfectly!
This is probably one of the spiciest books I've ever read. It wasn't so much so the amount of steamy scenes, because this was a slow burn, but it was the way they were written that made me blush a thousand shades and wish I had someone like Leo lol.
Talking about Leo, omg!! The MMC in this story was fucking perfect! With bully/enemies to lovers romances, I really hate when heroes don't have a good enough reason for being mean, but I totally got why Leo was the way he was. My boy was truly broken and I really felt for him. He was a sarcastic god, and the dialogue was gold!
I freaking loved Eliana! She was such a welcome break from every other heroine! She was so real and flawed, I connected with her on a deeper level. You could feel her emotions through the pages, the anticipation and suspense! She went through so much and my heart ached for her! Eli was seriously so strong, and didn't hold back when it came to telling it like it is! She gave Leo a run for his money.
Also I adored the writing in this book! Like I said, I can't believe this is Clara Elroy's debut novel! It read more like she has been writing for years now! The flow was perfect and the metaphors were amazing. I highlighted so many passages!
Can we talk about all the other characters as well? God, every character was so fleshed out, and you got a feel of their personality immediately! I cannot freaking wait until we read about Ares and Saint! 😭
March 21, 2021
A beautiful and tension-filled story that kept me mesmerized!
Eliana is a cinnamon roll but also a total badass! She has gone through so much and she is ready to fight back. I love the fierceness she has but also the vulnerability at the same time. Leo is definitely a rebel; he does what he wants and could care less what others think. He is the alpha asshole with a heart of gold, that you can't help but adore and I sure did, so much. They are both truly real and flawed, and I loved that.
Leo can be a real jerk towards Eliana but when it comes to her well-being, he would protect her at all costs even if it's the last thing he does. No one is allowed to hurt her or has him to deal with it. I loved that although he hates her most of the time, he's still very protective towards her. That maybe it's not only lust both of them feel towards each other. They've hated each other for so long that it's hard to put down the walls but the way they slowly start to let themselves feel more towards each other is beautiful.
The chemistry between Eli and Leo goes through the roof. There's so much tension and anger but also behind it so much passion and vulnerability. They definitely have this push and pull happening between them. The way the enemies to lovers aspect is portrayed is phenomenal. It's intense but also compelling. They are both so consumed by hate but can they look past it and let the hidden feelings rise to the surface? The steam though, wow damn. With the angst comes the best kind of steam, in my opinion. Clara Elroy truly went all in; it's pretty intense as I said.
I absolutely adore how this is a slight retelling of Echo and Narcissus. And that on top of it, there's so many twists throughout the story that I couldn't possibly predict. I love how this has intensity, drama, betrayal and mystery alongside the romance. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I love when books have revenge attached to the plot and it was done outstandingly in this.
The writing is amazing; it's beautiful and even quite poetic in a way. It totally pulls you inside the story, as do the characters, and I was completely consumed by it all. And that ending made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I just adore Eli and Leo wholeheartedly! I absolutely adored every single moment of this book and how I felt the passion through the pages from the beginning until the end.
Kiss of War tugged at my heartstrings in every way possible; it's truly a story to remember!
"I am bound to you. You can't leave without taking my heart with you."
*I received this ARC from the author but the thought are completely my own.*
Eliana is a cinnamon roll but also a total badass! She has gone through so much and she is ready to fight back. I love the fierceness she has but also the vulnerability at the same time. Leo is definitely a rebel; he does what he wants and could care less what others think. He is the alpha asshole with a heart of gold, that you can't help but adore and I sure did, so much. They are both truly real and flawed, and I loved that.
Leo can be a real jerk towards Eliana but when it comes to her well-being, he would protect her at all costs even if it's the last thing he does. No one is allowed to hurt her or has him to deal with it. I loved that although he hates her most of the time, he's still very protective towards her. That maybe it's not only lust both of them feel towards each other. They've hated each other for so long that it's hard to put down the walls but the way they slowly start to let themselves feel more towards each other is beautiful.
The chemistry between Eli and Leo goes through the roof. There's so much tension and anger but also behind it so much passion and vulnerability. They definitely have this push and pull happening between them. The way the enemies to lovers aspect is portrayed is phenomenal. It's intense but also compelling. They are both so consumed by hate but can they look past it and let the hidden feelings rise to the surface? The steam though, wow damn. With the angst comes the best kind of steam, in my opinion. Clara Elroy truly went all in; it's pretty intense as I said.
I absolutely adore how this is a slight retelling of Echo and Narcissus. And that on top of it, there's so many twists throughout the story that I couldn't possibly predict. I love how this has intensity, drama, betrayal and mystery alongside the romance. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I love when books have revenge attached to the plot and it was done outstandingly in this.
The writing is amazing; it's beautiful and even quite poetic in a way. It totally pulls you inside the story, as do the characters, and I was completely consumed by it all. And that ending made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I just adore Eli and Leo wholeheartedly! I absolutely adored every single moment of this book and how I felt the passion through the pages from the beginning until the end.
Kiss of War tugged at my heartstrings in every way possible; it's truly a story to remember!
"I am bound to you. You can't leave without taking my heart with you."
*I received this ARC from the author but the thought are completely my own.*
May 13, 2021
HOLY SHIT!!! this was amazing!!!
May 13, 2021
One of the best books I read in 2021, very well written, I loved how strong he was and he was unmoved by anything !!
April 29, 2021
89 %
Spoilers in
FL TOO DESPERATE FOR MY TASTE 🚧
I don't want to sound rude cos I know she has worked hard on this thing. But I just can't find in me to like anything about this book.
I really did not appreciate the execution of Eli's character. She was just a washed up version of 'loner gone lusting' after the wolf, gone wrong.
You see, I just wanted her to fight for herself, E.V.E.N against Leo.
How in the hell do you get turn on when someone is literally making your life miserable, is something beyond my imagination.
Apparently, her tough personality as hinted, by the author, was just lost somewhere inside her vagina.
Short background ; Leo torments Eli, as her father( who was a painter ) was accused of raping his sister Isabella and killing her.
( the father dies if you are wondering, apparently someone stabs him in the prison.
So, Eli here desperately wants this painting that was dedicated to her by her father. It's like his last whispers of farewell.
.
What does Leo does, you ask ?
He buys the painting after betting millions of dollar, only to shatter the ever loving shit out of it.
..And then later proceeds to gift her the fragments of it's remains.
What does Eli does, you ask ?
Understandably .. she breaks
and I, break .. for her.
THEN ... Nothing.....Zilch.....Zero...
For a sentiment she tried to bet her fortune over, it was just lost afterwards.
forgotten, like a rotten tomato in your refrigerator.
Now, Let's subtract the cliché, shall we;
her father, as you may have guessed, was innocent. Sure, He was having an affair and has a illegimate child but when your wife is someone like Claire... that's comprehensible.
she neglected her father and refused to hear his side of story, so was she guilty? You ask
I wanted her to.. but when the same girl is busy feeling everything Leo has to give...how can she
I don't even want to cover anything about Leo, except for the fact that he was a plain dick, If nothing more.
But then again, he hooks Eli, with so little effort, with the same dick.
So forgive me, if I am cranky today.
Ciao
Spoilers in
FL TOO DESPERATE FOR MY TASTE 🚧
I don't want to sound rude cos I know she has worked hard on this thing. But I just can't find in me to like anything about this book.
I really did not appreciate the execution of Eli's character. She was just a washed up version of 'loner gone lusting' after the wolf, gone wrong.
You see, I just wanted her to fight for herself, E.V.E.N against Leo.
How in the hell do you get turn on when someone is literally making your life miserable, is something beyond my imagination.
Apparently, her tough personality as hinted, by the author, was just lost somewhere inside her vagina.
Short background ; Leo torments Eli, as her father( who was a painter ) was accused of raping his sister Isabella and killing her.
( the father dies if you are wondering, apparently someone stabs him in the prison.
So, Eli here desperately wants this painting that was dedicated to her by her father. It's like his last whispers of farewell.
.
What does Leo does, you ask ?
He buys the painting after betting millions of dollar, only to shatter the ever loving shit out of it.
..And then later proceeds to gift her the fragments of it's remains.
What does Eli does, you ask ?
Understandably .. she breaks
and I, break .. for her.
THEN ... Nothing.....Zilch.....Zero...
For a sentiment she tried to bet her fortune over, it was just lost afterwards.
forgotten, like a rotten tomato in your refrigerator.
Now, Let's subtract the cliché, shall we;
her father, as you may have guessed, was innocent. Sure, He was having an affair and has a illegimate child but when your wife is someone like Claire... that's comprehensible.
she neglected her father and refused to hear his side of story, so was she guilty? You ask
I wanted her to.. but when the same girl is busy feeling everything Leo has to give...how can she
I don't even want to cover anything about Leo, except for the fact that he was a plain dick, If nothing more.
But then again, he hooks Eli, with so little effort, with the same dick.
So forgive me, if I am cranky today.
Ciao
April 25, 2021
i'm not exactly sure how i feel about this book.
It follows Eliana who is now facing the repercussions of her fathers choices, after he is accused of murder and rape of a girl her age. We then meet Leonardo, who is seeking for revenge and is hell-bent on destroying the girl whose father killed his twin sister.
Creating labyrinths and loopholes within each other’s minds came easy to both of us, remembering the way back was where things got tricky
The story feels like many other new adult bully romance. Filled with lies and secrets and betrayal and oh good god the jealousy made my eyes roll. there were some moments that were painfully predictable and cliche. But in other aspects, this book sorta surprised me.
1. I think i was thrown off because of the blurb. It made me believe that the h would have some " personality change" and grow some balls instead of being a pretty doormat. But the heroine didn't change at all throughout the book. She wasn't exactly a doormat but she did stand around and let everyone push her around and "walk around miserable" all the time. (her words not mine)
2. This is probably the first time i didn't have to wait until like 50% of the book to find out why the H actually hated the h. And honestly the animosity between them seemed expected and just stood on the boarder of "bullying"
3. SHE ASKED FOR SPACE AND HE GAVE IT TO HER!!. I genuinely was shook when i read the part where she wanted to be away from him and live her life for a while without him being in it. And he realized he couldn't stop her. He realized his actions do have consequences!halle-fucking-lujah.
there were very few moments where i connected with the h. i dont have as much tolerance or patience as her. But that's also probably why i can NEVER get through a solid bully romance.
'Ian Somerhalder, think about Ian Somerhalder, you dumb bitch'
well. Atleast we have similar taste in guys
overall this book was a fun read. it kept me on my toes with the whole " who-actually-killed-my-sister-and-framed-your-father" storyline. The main characters were pretty cool and some things that Leonardo confesses made me feel butterflies in more places than my stomach!
I would recommend this as an appetizer into the bully romance genre. 3.5 to 3.75 stars
It follows Eliana who is now facing the repercussions of her fathers choices, after he is accused of murder and rape of a girl her age. We then meet Leonardo, who is seeking for revenge and is hell-bent on destroying the girl whose father killed his twin sister.
Creating labyrinths and loopholes within each other’s minds came easy to both of us, remembering the way back was where things got tricky
The story feels like many other new adult bully romance. Filled with lies and secrets and betrayal and oh good god the jealousy made my eyes roll. there were some moments that were painfully predictable and cliche. But in other aspects, this book sorta surprised me.
1. I think i was thrown off because of the blurb. It made me believe that the h would have some " personality change" and grow some balls instead of being a pretty doormat. But the heroine didn't change at all throughout the book. She wasn't exactly a doormat but she did stand around and let everyone push her around and "walk around miserable" all the time. (her words not mine)
2. This is probably the first time i didn't have to wait until like 50% of the book to find out why the H actually hated the h. And honestly the animosity between them seemed expected and just stood on the boarder of "bullying"
3. SHE ASKED FOR SPACE AND HE GAVE IT TO HER!!. I genuinely was shook when i read the part where she wanted to be away from him and live her life for a while without him being in it. And he realized he couldn't stop her. He realized his actions do have consequences!halle-fucking-lujah.
there were very few moments where i connected with the h. i dont have as much tolerance or patience as her. But that's also probably why i can NEVER get through a solid bully romance.
'Ian Somerhalder, think about Ian Somerhalder, you dumb bitch'
well. Atleast we have similar taste in guys
overall this book was a fun read. it kept me on my toes with the whole " who-actually-killed-my-sister-and-framed-your-father" storyline. The main characters were pretty cool and some things that Leonardo confesses made me feel butterflies in more places than my stomach!
I would recommend this as an appetizer into the bully romance genre. 3.5 to 3.75 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2021
where do i even begin with this book? 😭😭
the book is the perfect combination of angsty, sexy, and soft.
this is a top tier take on the enemies to lovers/hate to love trope, add in all of the drama as well as all the twists and turns, it makes a damn near perfect book.
leo was an alpha that i could get behind because his mean streak, his assholeishness came from such a broken place that you couldn’t help but to cheer him on from the very first page.
eli, MY GIRL ELI, i just really loved her. i just wanted to jump in the book, grab her, and bring her into the real life with me so i could love the f*ck out of her. i’m so happy this book ended with her happiness.
with any NA romance that involves bullying, there is drama and i’m glad to report that it only made the story better. there’s also suspense which i was not expecting, but clara said “ma’am i’m gonna scare the 🤫 out of you and you’re gonna like it” and well i did.
and last but not least, clara’s writing is out of this world. it’s probably the prettiest writing i may have ever read. there are so many good quotes, ones that make you laugh, ones that absolutely gut you. i know clara put her heart and soul into this book and you can definitely tell from the very first word until the last.
this is a new release you don’t want to miss, i promise you.
the book is the perfect combination of angsty, sexy, and soft.
this is a top tier take on the enemies to lovers/hate to love trope, add in all of the drama as well as all the twists and turns, it makes a damn near perfect book.
leo was an alpha that i could get behind because his mean streak, his assholeishness came from such a broken place that you couldn’t help but to cheer him on from the very first page.
eli, MY GIRL ELI, i just really loved her. i just wanted to jump in the book, grab her, and bring her into the real life with me so i could love the f*ck out of her. i’m so happy this book ended with her happiness.
with any NA romance that involves bullying, there is drama and i’m glad to report that it only made the story better. there’s also suspense which i was not expecting, but clara said “ma’am i’m gonna scare the 🤫 out of you and you’re gonna like it” and well i did.
and last but not least, clara’s writing is out of this world. it’s probably the prettiest writing i may have ever read. there are so many good quotes, ones that make you laugh, ones that absolutely gut you. i know clara put her heart and soul into this book and you can definitely tell from the very first word until the last.
this is a new release you don’t want to miss, i promise you.
March 26, 2021
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
tw// mentions of sexu*al ass*ault, mentions of s*uicide
What a great debut! I’m so glad I signed up to receive the ARC and be here for Clara’s first release as it even felt more special after being mutuals on Instagram for MONTHS now!
I must say that I, even though I was doing promo, kind of never familiarised myself with the plot. All of my friends, and mutuals as well, know that I hate blurbs and I never read them. So, everything was fresh to me when I dived in and that’s why I even loved the story more. As this book is a little bit of a mystery, you all know how much I enjoyed it.
I will start with the couple because their story definitely added the spark to the book and their relationship was perfectly written. I loved the bickering between them from the very first moment - their dialogues were so fresh and I consumed every single word they spoke to each other. It almost felt like I was reading a script for a theatre play at one point because the words they used were so different to other books I usually read yet it really was something that kept me hooked on. I also enjoyed the glimpses of their past.
Both the characters were great. Eliana was a very bold heroine and I loved how she grew into this incredible woman and fought people that treat her like a doormat. As I don’t want to give out spoilers I cannot really say more, but I only had one issue with her and that was how she reacted to the particular thing that was mainly the plot of the book - it just felt off. However, it was great to see her change throughout the book.
With Leo, on the other hand, it was great to see his character growth and how the walls around him cracked so we could finally see what he really felt. We’ll never know how we’ll react to awful situations so I never really doubted or hated him for what he was doing. I could symphatise with him because whenever we got his POV, I really felt like crying.
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
tw// mentions of sexu*al ass*ault, mentions of s*uicide
What a great debut! I’m so glad I signed up to receive the ARC and be here for Clara’s first release as it even felt more special after being mutuals on Instagram for MONTHS now!
I must say that I, even though I was doing promo, kind of never familiarised myself with the plot. All of my friends, and mutuals as well, know that I hate blurbs and I never read them. So, everything was fresh to me when I dived in and that’s why I even loved the story more. As this book is a little bit of a mystery, you all know how much I enjoyed it.
I will start with the couple because their story definitely added the spark to the book and their relationship was perfectly written. I loved the bickering between them from the very first moment - their dialogues were so fresh and I consumed every single word they spoke to each other. It almost felt like I was reading a script for a theatre play at one point because the words they used were so different to other books I usually read yet it really was something that kept me hooked on. I also enjoyed the glimpses of their past.
Both the characters were great. Eliana was a very bold heroine and I loved how she grew into this incredible woman and fought people that treat her like a doormat. As I don’t want to give out spoilers I cannot really say more, but I only had one issue with her and that was how she reacted to the particular thing that was mainly the plot of the book - it just felt off. However, it was great to see her change throughout the book.
With Leo, on the other hand, it was great to see his character growth and how the walls around him cracked so we could finally see what he really felt. We’ll never know how we’ll react to awful situations so I never really doubted or hated him for what he was doing. I could symphatise with him because whenever we got his POV, I really felt like crying.
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
November 19, 2023
Well, that was a mistake. Don't promise a strong MC if they're gonna fall at the feet of the "bad boy" who (quite literally) ruins her life and doesn't suffer any consequences for it.
January 1, 2023
Their first kiss is weird.
It took a while for the story to truly unfold. I got impatient and skipped some pages but I did quite like both the MC.
An okay read for the end of the year. Happy new year, everyone! Wishing everybody another great year for great reads! 🍻🌸
It took a while for the story to truly unfold. I got impatient and skipped some pages but I did quite like both the MC.
An okay read for the end of the year. Happy new year, everyone! Wishing everybody another great year for great reads! 🍻🌸
June 29, 2021
tropes: possessive hero, enemies to lovers.
This book is about a boy that lost his twin sister, and the one who killed her was the father of his crush.
After 4y Leonardo and Eliana decided to team up and try to find the real killer of his sister. obviously, the sexual tension is high, so they give in to their desire.
the first 80% had me excited, because I always love to know the reason behind someone's action, so I wanted to know who killed Leonardo's sister and why, but after I found out i was bored!
i didn't even care when they broke up, and usually, bully/enemies to lovers books are the ones that i feel the character's pain when they break up.
this might be just me but, if i was getting bullied and the whole town hated me, i would move to another city/country! most of the time these characters are rich, so money ain't the problem. i just don't see why would this ppl chose to stay in a place that bad.
This book is about a boy that lost his twin sister, and the one who killed her was the father of his crush.
After 4y Leonardo and Eliana decided to team up and try to find the real killer of his sister. obviously, the sexual tension is high, so they give in to their desire.
the first 80% had me excited, because I always love to know the reason behind someone's action, so I wanted to know who killed Leonardo's sister and why, but after I found out i was bored!
i didn't even care when they broke up, and usually, bully/enemies to lovers books are the ones that i feel the character's pain when they break up.
this might be just me but, if i was getting bullied and the whole town hated me, i would move to another city/country! most of the time these characters are rich, so money ain't the problem. i just don't see why would this ppl chose to stay in a place that bad.
April 12, 2021
I could never believe this was the authors debut novel. It’s so well written. I loved the alpha a-hole Leo lol and Eliana! She was so sassy. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites! The killers daughter and the victim’s brother, I thought the concept, story, and character growth was amazing.
Love the title too & I look forward to reading more of the authors work.
Love the title too & I look forward to reading more of the authors work.
March 19, 2021
I finished this book a few days ago, and I still can't stop thinking about it.
It was seriously so good! I laughed, I cried, I got mad, I swooned, Clara Elroy literally pulled every emotion out of me with this book.
The characters were everything I love in a book.
Leo was such an asshole at first, but my god did he redeem himself! I loved his sarcastic comebacks, his alpha tendencies and his sweet moments when needed. He was such a perfect blend of all the best qualities a book boyfriend can have! And holy hell, was he filthy as well! 🥵
Eliana was freaking awesome! We need to start seeing more women like her in romance books. This girl was strong!! She went through so much, but was still able to stand up for herself when needed and I don't know how she kept her sanity intact after everything that happened, but I'm so fucking proud of her!
I can't wait to get my physical copy of this book, I'll probably be rereading it a lot! It had such heartbreaking and sad moments, it had a lot of spice as well, and the comebacks and dialogue were top-notch!
It was seriously so good! I laughed, I cried, I got mad, I swooned, Clara Elroy literally pulled every emotion out of me with this book.
The characters were everything I love in a book.
Leo was such an asshole at first, but my god did he redeem himself! I loved his sarcastic comebacks, his alpha tendencies and his sweet moments when needed. He was such a perfect blend of all the best qualities a book boyfriend can have! And holy hell, was he filthy as well! 🥵
Eliana was freaking awesome! We need to start seeing more women like her in romance books. This girl was strong!! She went through so much, but was still able to stand up for herself when needed and I don't know how she kept her sanity intact after everything that happened, but I'm so fucking proud of her!
I can't wait to get my physical copy of this book, I'll probably be rereading it a lot! It had such heartbreaking and sad moments, it had a lot of spice as well, and the comebacks and dialogue were top-notch!
December 30, 2021
It took me soooo long to get into this book, I actually pushed it aside for a day and read a different book instead which is something I never do but I just didn't connect with the characters or the story. I finally got into it around 75-80% but at that point things were predictable. One thing this story had going for it was the heat level, which was HIGH!
Let me paint a picture for you, a book this length, 436 pages, I can usually finish in two days, this book took me a week, the book that I read in a day while reading this one was 304 pages...you see what I'm saying.
full review to follow
Let me paint a picture for you, a book this length, 436 pages, I can usually finish in two days, this book took me a week, the book that I read in a day while reading this one was 304 pages...you see what I'm saying.
full review to follow
March 22, 2021
OH MY GOODNESS, this book was such a tremendous read 😭😭 the author already knows my love for Leo even though he was nothing but a pure little asshole who had me wanting to question my feelings and implications 🤭 I loved the plot and the profoundness of this story and not to forget the intensity. An absolute, Wow! 💗
The characters of this story are something else! Leonardo, as already spoken of was nothing but a vermin and an asshat from the beginning! I hated the fact that I loved him. His character was very complex, evil and hateful in the beginning but not to forget the hidden love and possessiveness behind him. Later, his character evolved and invented beautifully and he finally, emphasis on the finally, accepted his love for Eli and put his revulsion to rest. *Happy tears.*
Eliana, I loved her so much throughout the entire book. She had such a decisive and dominant character which inspired me a bit! The troubles and pains that she felt and went about with ached my heart and it had me on the edge of tears by how badly she was attended by everyone but none the less, she wasn't a naive or a feeble one so she held robustly and protected herself all on her own! Like I've already said, I loved her from the beginning!
The characters of this story are something else! Leonardo, as already spoken of was nothing but a vermin and an asshat from the beginning! I hated the fact that I loved him. His character was very complex, evil and hateful in the beginning but not to forget the hidden love and possessiveness behind him. Later, his character evolved and invented beautifully and he finally, emphasis on the finally, accepted his love for Eli and put his revulsion to rest. *Happy tears.*
Eliana, I loved her so much throughout the entire book. She had such a decisive and dominant character which inspired me a bit! The troubles and pains that she felt and went about with ached my heart and it had me on the edge of tears by how badly she was attended by everyone but none the less, she wasn't a naive or a feeble one so she held robustly and protected herself all on her own! Like I've already said, I loved her from the beginning!
March 15, 2021
I’d give this story more than 5 stars if I could!
This was the pinnacle of an enemies to lovers romance. Leo was a true Alpha-hole but I couldn’t help but love his character, smashing through this story to find out how he redeemed himself for how he treated Eli. And as bad as life got for Eli, I loved her resilience and ability to shine in the darkest and loneliest of moments.
I’m seriously blown away that this is a debut book for Clara Elroy.
Steamy, suspenseful and angsty, pops of humour and so many twists and turns made this story unpredictable and one of my favourite reads for 2021.
I couldn’t get enough and already feel like I want to read it again!!!
This was the pinnacle of an enemies to lovers romance. Leo was a true Alpha-hole but I couldn’t help but love his character, smashing through this story to find out how he redeemed himself for how he treated Eli. And as bad as life got for Eli, I loved her resilience and ability to shine in the darkest and loneliest of moments.
I’m seriously blown away that this is a debut book for Clara Elroy.
Steamy, suspenseful and angsty, pops of humour and so many twists and turns made this story unpredictable and one of my favourite reads for 2021.
I couldn’t get enough and already feel like I want to read it again!!!
March 26, 2021
All the stars for this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. This was very steamy🔥🔥🔥🔥 but the MCs had the chemistry to pull it off perfectly. This was an enemies to lovers story with lots of angst. I loved the writing. The author did such a great job of making me feel all the feels. There was a lot of bullying in this book but it aided the arc of the story. It was a modern retelling of Greek mythology Narcissus and Echo and the story had little nods to current pop culture that I enjoyed.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
March 22, 2021
This story kept me hooked from the beginning until the end!
The chemistry between the characters was through the roof and I'm going to get into that, but first let me tell you a bit about the book.
It starts with a trial scene, where Eliana's (FMC) father is getting sentenced for the murder of Leo's sister (MMC), and from there understandably there is a great divide between Leo and Eli. They are both very cruel to each other, but they also can't help the attraction that always existed between them. And when they are forced to work together, sparks fly. ✨
As I said, the chemistry in this book was amazing! I couldn't help but root for the characters from the start! I adored Eliana's feisty nature and Leo's asshole tendencies.
I really recommend this book! It's fun, steamy, heartbreaking, and full of twists that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
The chemistry between the characters was through the roof and I'm going to get into that, but first let me tell you a bit about the book.
It starts with a trial scene, where Eliana's (FMC) father is getting sentenced for the murder of Leo's sister (MMC), and from there understandably there is a great divide between Leo and Eli. They are both very cruel to each other, but they also can't help the attraction that always existed between them. And when they are forced to work together, sparks fly. ✨
As I said, the chemistry in this book was amazing! I couldn't help but root for the characters from the start! I adored Eliana's feisty nature and Leo's asshole tendencies.
I really recommend this book! It's fun, steamy, heartbreaking, and full of twists that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
September 22, 2021
It had a story and the smut so that's good.
March 30, 2021
A debut book by this author. Interesting storyline with a lot of angst, enemies to lovers and it was a bit of a roller coaster ride. Eliana and Leo have a lot of drama between the two of them. Leo lost someone very important to him and that loss was solely by Eliana’s father. So, he is more and angry about it. There is anger, resentment towards Eliana. I was glad to see Eliana stand her ground and was not a meek charming when it came to Leo. The way the story was set up, I honestly thought she was going to be, but she wasn’t.
It took me awhile to get into it, but once it picked up, I breezed through it. There are side characters that seems to be getting their own stories, which will be interesting to see.
It took me awhile to get into it, but once it picked up, I breezed through it. There are side characters that seems to be getting their own stories, which will be interesting to see.
September 10, 2021
Pretty boring. The plot is also overused. The female lead forgives too fast.
April 11, 2021
This was such a refreshing read!
I absolutely adored this story, the characters were so well developed and the twists and turns were amazing!
Also can we talk about Leo? I seriously wanted to slap him and ride him at the same time lmao.
So, so good! I hope Saint's book is next!
I absolutely adored this story, the characters were so well developed and the twists and turns were amazing!
Also can we talk about Leo? I seriously wanted to slap him and ride him at the same time lmao.
So, so good! I hope Saint's book is next!
April 11, 2021
Dnf @ "i don't even know where"
The story was good and had a lot of angst and potential to it... but the writing style didn't work out for me. At all. It was too dramatic. So that's that, I guess.
The story was good and had a lot of angst and potential to it... but the writing style didn't work out for me. At all. It was too dramatic. So that's that, I guess.
April 11, 2021
Loved Leo and Eli! 😍 Childhood crushes, to enemies, to lovers! One of my favorite tropes and it was executed so well!
March 25, 2021
A Gripping and Tension Filled Debut!
5 stars!
“I don’t hate you, Narcissus. No matter how hard I try, I can’t. You’re the fire to my smoke. You keep me going. You keep the flames blazing. And for that, I can never hate you.”
Kiss of War has easily become one of my favorite reads of 2021 and Clara Elroy becoming a new favorite author of mine! With Clara’s gripping writing, this story has the feel of the forbiddenness like Romeo and Juliet, and mixed with a little Greek retelling of Narcissus and Echo. I was pulled right from the tragic start and was left consumed with Eliana and Leo’s love.
Kiss of War literally has it all: enemies to lovers, angst, romance, mystery, steam, and tons of emotions. What more could you want? The drama and jealousy added into this made it so entertaining to read as well. The journey that both Eliana and Leo go through not only together, but alone, was what made this story beautiful to read. You see these two characters find themselves again after all that they went through, and all that Leo put Eli through. They had the past and the chemistry that made everything so hard to deny.
Eliana. God, I felt for her. The amount of guilt she let herself feel throughout the years, and some for something that she had nothing to do with. She’s the girl that wont back down no matter what. She’s strong to her core. A little bit a petty on the side too. She rolled with the punches though, and didn’t let that deter her.
Leonardo. He’s the ass that you couldn’t help but love. He had his moments, for sure. Going through a tragic circumstance will do that to anyone, but underneath it all, he was still there. I loved how as the story evolved, we see him evolve too. I lived for his protectiveness for Eli. GOSH it was cute.
I lived for their little moments. For their happy moments. Crushes as kids, enemies as young adults, and finally lovers, their journey to one another is not one to miss out on. And what helps their push and pull, was what they were fighting for together. Justice. They needed the truth, and that’s where the mystery plot comes in. It’s there the whole time, and it was a ride going on it, uncovering all the lies and deceits. This book makes you swoon, smile, frustrated, but the burn in the end makes it all worth it.
5 stars!
“I don’t hate you, Narcissus. No matter how hard I try, I can’t. You’re the fire to my smoke. You keep me going. You keep the flames blazing. And for that, I can never hate you.”
Kiss of War has easily become one of my favorite reads of 2021 and Clara Elroy becoming a new favorite author of mine! With Clara’s gripping writing, this story has the feel of the forbiddenness like Romeo and Juliet, and mixed with a little Greek retelling of Narcissus and Echo. I was pulled right from the tragic start and was left consumed with Eliana and Leo’s love.
Kiss of War literally has it all: enemies to lovers, angst, romance, mystery, steam, and tons of emotions. What more could you want? The drama and jealousy added into this made it so entertaining to read as well. The journey that both Eliana and Leo go through not only together, but alone, was what made this story beautiful to read. You see these two characters find themselves again after all that they went through, and all that Leo put Eli through. They had the past and the chemistry that made everything so hard to deny.
Eliana. God, I felt for her. The amount of guilt she let herself feel throughout the years, and some for something that she had nothing to do with. She’s the girl that wont back down no matter what. She’s strong to her core. A little bit a petty on the side too. She rolled with the punches though, and didn’t let that deter her.
Leonardo. He’s the ass that you couldn’t help but love. He had his moments, for sure. Going through a tragic circumstance will do that to anyone, but underneath it all, he was still there. I loved how as the story evolved, we see him evolve too. I lived for his protectiveness for Eli. GOSH it was cute.
I lived for their little moments. For their happy moments. Crushes as kids, enemies as young adults, and finally lovers, their journey to one another is not one to miss out on. And what helps their push and pull, was what they were fighting for together. Justice. They needed the truth, and that’s where the mystery plot comes in. It’s there the whole time, and it was a ride going on it, uncovering all the lies and deceits. This book makes you swoon, smile, frustrated, but the burn in the end makes it all worth it.
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