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Brutal Birthright #6
Le Poids du sang
A Temptation I Couldn’t Resist...
I saw her being stuffed in a trunk: Yelena Yenina, only daughter of the most vicious Bratva boss in Chicago.
The Bratva hate my family. They burned my uncle alive. I should have left Yelena to her fate...
But she fought like a Valkyrie. Gorgeous, ferocious, and unbreakable.
I saved her so I could make her mine.
She says she’ll never submit to a man. I guess we’ll see…
I’ll push her to the limit. And far beyond.
Heavy Crown is the mind-blowing conclusion to the bestselling Brutal Birthright series. It’s a stand-alone Dark Mafia Romance with HEA and no cliffhanger. Contains extra-steamy scenes guaranteed to make your night!
The Lark Notes:
I knew I had to end the Brutal Birthright series with the biggest twists, the most intense action, and the hottest hero yet. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sebastian from the very first book – you’re going to be so surprised where his journey takes him!
I saw her being stuffed in a trunk: Yelena Yenina, only daughter of the most vicious Bratva boss in Chicago.
The Bratva hate my family. They burned my uncle alive. I should have left Yelena to her fate...
But she fought like a Valkyrie. Gorgeous, ferocious, and unbreakable.
I saved her so I could make her mine.
She says she’ll never submit to a man. I guess we’ll see…
I’ll push her to the limit. And far beyond.
Heavy Crown is the mind-blowing conclusion to the bestselling Brutal Birthright series. It’s a stand-alone Dark Mafia Romance with HEA and no cliffhanger. Contains extra-steamy scenes guaranteed to make your night!
The Lark Notes:
I knew I had to end the Brutal Birthright series with the biggest twists, the most intense action, and the hottest hero yet. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sebastian from the very first book – you’re going to be so surprised where his journey takes him!
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2021
3509 people are currently reading
52991 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Lark
42 books23.8k followersPowerful Romance
Special Editions & Exclusive Stories:
https://sophielark.com/
Sophie lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite authors are Emily Henry and Freida McFadden. She’s an Aquarius who loves fitness and looks forward to Halloween every year.
Special Editions & Exclusive Stories:
https://sophielark.com/
Sophie lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite authors are Emily Henry and Freida McFadden. She’s an Aquarius who loves fitness and looks forward to Halloween every year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,661 reviews
May 3, 2022
1 star I was gonna give it 2 stars but then I thought about it and no, my actual genuine opinion is that I absolutely hated this book and that it ruined the series and some characters for me.
Biggest disappointment in the series.
For multiple reasons:
1. This was supposed to bring some sort of finality to the series but in my opinion it broke everything apart. The bonds created throughout the books were deconstructed here in such a cold and clinical way. The Gallo family is in my opinion fractured, in a way they probably never were. Are they all individually happy? Likely, but they all chose different paths and kind of washed their hands off each other. If anything this book made me depressed at how it handled the family dynamics.
2. Sebastian, my God, I used to like him so much in last books and even in the beginning of the book I had hope I would love him and his journey - to say that this book destroyed his character is accurate. He was indecisive, and immature and naive which led to reckless and he had no emotional intelligence to deal with people or situations accordingly.
I was also disappointed in the dungeon scene. You can dress up an abusive scene as body betraying syndrome, as dub con etc, but let me call it as I read it, that was not much different to rape and emotional blackmail. I get that she said yes, if she had said no at any point he would have stopped and yet it’s not that simple. He basically said “I’ll forgive you if you let me do whatever to you - you ask me to stop and we’re done” and what did you think she did? She didn’t say”stop”. Yelena came from a place where she was psychologically manipulated and told that her place in the world is at the mercy of the men around her and then she meets Sebastian who claimed to love her and treated her like any person should be treated and she was literally desperate to keep him and get him to forgive her (apparently taking a bullet for him was not enough- degradation and humiliation needed to happen as well). If this had been a consensual kinky scene I would still think it didn’t fit Sebastian and Yelena as characters, but the circumstances in which that happened were just worse. I was disturbed by that scene (and the reasoning behind it was ludicrous). Disgusted with Sebastian and I realised how messed up Yelena is and how she really needs therapy. I’m not being sarcastic but entirely genuine.
3. Yelena, I don’t understand why she was described as fierce and what exactly was Sebastian high on when he kept calling her a fighter. I felt like, for being 25 and accustomed to her father’s personality and business she would know better, she would be more inquisitive and smarter and just overall that she would show some critical thinking. In my opinion she was dumb as rocks and she needed therapy. She was obsessed with keeping Sebastian but I didn’t feel like it was simply from a place of love. It read like she was desperate to be loved and wanted. She would have licked his shoes if he told her that’s the only way he’d magnanimously forgive her. Their dynamic felt very toxic even after they reconciled. They didn’t grow as people individually- they just kinda put a bandaid on a gaping wound and called it a day.
4. Lack of relationship development - I feel like this goes without saying after point 2 and 3 but it was very insta-love. I didn’t actually believe in them as a couple in love. It felt more like a mutually beneficial relationship by the end of the book. Yelena would feel safe with Seb and Seb got the hottest girl. Yelena was also too sexualised by everyone including Sebastian. Their connection was not shown only told.
5. Lack of closure. That kind of goes hand in hand with point 1. At the end of the book I felt so frustrated and disappointed. Not how you wanna feel when you finish a 6 book series. I felt like I didn’t know those people anymore (form previous books). A shame really.
6. The overall plot and action was a mess and it made a joke out of the “most powerful criminal men and families in the US”. It felt like a bunch of kids playing mafia. So uncoordinated, so messy, so many things left to chance, so many hurried and questionable decisions and loyalties which were as good as broken.
Biggest disappointment in the series.
For multiple reasons:
1. This was supposed to bring some sort of finality to the series but in my opinion it broke everything apart. The bonds created throughout the books were deconstructed here in such a cold and clinical way. The Gallo family is in my opinion fractured, in a way they probably never were. Are they all individually happy? Likely, but they all chose different paths and kind of washed their hands off each other. If anything this book made me depressed at how it handled the family dynamics.
2. Sebastian, my God, I used to like him so much in last books and even in the beginning of the book I had hope I would love him and his journey - to say that this book destroyed his character is accurate. He was indecisive, and immature and naive which led to reckless and he had no emotional intelligence to deal with people or situations accordingly.
I was also disappointed in the dungeon scene. You can dress up an abusive scene as body betraying syndrome, as dub con etc, but let me call it as I read it, that was not much different to rape and emotional blackmail. I get that she said yes, if she had said no at any point he would have stopped and yet it’s not that simple. He basically said “I’ll forgive you if you let me do whatever to you - you ask me to stop and we’re done” and what did you think she did? She didn’t say”stop”. Yelena came from a place where she was psychologically manipulated and told that her place in the world is at the mercy of the men around her and then she meets Sebastian who claimed to love her and treated her like any person should be treated and she was literally desperate to keep him and get him to forgive her (apparently taking a bullet for him was not enough- degradation and humiliation needed to happen as well). If this had been a consensual kinky scene I would still think it didn’t fit Sebastian and Yelena as characters, but the circumstances in which that happened were just worse. I was disturbed by that scene (and the reasoning behind it was ludicrous). Disgusted with Sebastian and I realised how messed up Yelena is and how she really needs therapy. I’m not being sarcastic but entirely genuine.
3. Yelena, I don’t understand why she was described as fierce and what exactly was Sebastian high on when he kept calling her a fighter. I felt like, for being 25 and accustomed to her father’s personality and business she would know better, she would be more inquisitive and smarter and just overall that she would show some critical thinking. In my opinion she was dumb as rocks and she needed therapy. She was obsessed with keeping Sebastian but I didn’t feel like it was simply from a place of love. It read like she was desperate to be loved and wanted. She would have licked his shoes if he told her that’s the only way he’d magnanimously forgive her. Their dynamic felt very toxic even after they reconciled. They didn’t grow as people individually- they just kinda put a bandaid on a gaping wound and called it a day.
4. Lack of relationship development - I feel like this goes without saying after point 2 and 3 but it was very insta-love. I didn’t actually believe in them as a couple in love. It felt more like a mutually beneficial relationship by the end of the book. Yelena would feel safe with Seb and Seb got the hottest girl. Yelena was also too sexualised by everyone including Sebastian. Their connection was not shown only told.
5. Lack of closure. That kind of goes hand in hand with point 1. At the end of the book I felt so frustrated and disappointed. Not how you wanna feel when you finish a 6 book series. I felt like I didn’t know those people anymore (form previous books). A shame really.
6. The overall plot and action was a mess and it made a joke out of the “most powerful criminal men and families in the US”. It felt like a bunch of kids playing mafia. So uncoordinated, so messy, so many things left to chance, so many hurried and questionable decisions and loyalties which were as good as broken.
March 1, 2022
4.25 🌟 a great ending to this series! I loved the twists and turns this one took and the action was *chefs kiss* I also wasn’t expecting to like Sebastian as much as I did 😮💨 Dante is still my number 1 Gallo brother tho let’s not get it twisted. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Yelena, but they worked well as a couple. Not gonna lie tho, my fav parts was seeing my babies Aida & Callum 🙈
“Don’t use the History Channel against me, Aida.” - Callum mf Griffin (this isn’t even their book sos y’all)
I’m very excited for kingmakers 🕺🏻
“Don’t use the History Channel against me, Aida.” - Callum mf Griffin (this isn’t even their book sos y’all)
I’m very excited for kingmakers 🕺🏻
Read
December 19, 2020I knew I had to end the Brutal Birthright series with the biggest twists, the most intense action, and the hottest hero yet. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sebastian from the very first book – you’re going to be so surprised where his journey takes him!
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Brutal Birthright Series
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July 1, 2021
Is no one else annoyed at how Dante has changed?? I was sooo upset. He saves the day, cool! Then run away to be with Simone! Turns his back on his entire family? Nero is still in the hospital, in a coma, but he promised Simone no more blood so now he has to run back to the love of his life? I get it, it’s showing his love for her, but he’s also a little cry baby when it comes to her and it ruins the vibe. Then we have Nero the craziest of them all! And he didn’t bring a gun to a gun fight!?? And just let’s himself get shot up? Again, in the name of love? Smh.
Then they’re mobsters. Mobsters right? With armies of like 4 ppl. How is that an army? How are you running an entire city with 4 ppl? And 50K is gonna bankrupt you? And you’re the head of a damn mafia family and you think true love solves it all and go into a wedding with your eyes shut?
I was so upset throughout this entire last book
Then they’re mobsters. Mobsters right? With armies of like 4 ppl. How is that an army? How are you running an entire city with 4 ppl? And 50K is gonna bankrupt you? And you’re the head of a damn mafia family and you think true love solves it all and go into a wedding with your eyes shut?
I was so upset throughout this entire last book
May 12, 2022
I love this series so much and, after the high of book five, I was excited to finish off the series. Unfortunately, I found most of this romance boring and the decisions made extremely frustrating. Yelena is the daughter of a Bratva boss, which is the rival of Sebastian's family. They meet, and Sebastian doesn't even question that Yelena apparently hasn't heard of him or his family. Really??? Sure. It is very insta-love and the plot is sooooo slow. I just couldn't care for their romance because I knew that the final conflict was going to be Sebastian learning the truth about Yelena and her family. The plot was just a little cliche and predictable and I really didn't love it. I felt the most detached from this couple and the background plot just felt like it was setting up for the kingmaker series. It definitely makes me excited to pick up that series again and hop onto book two (I've already read book one), but I'm disappointed that this was what the series ended on.
September 10, 2022
the quietest ones really are kinky fuckers huh
February 6, 2025
What a disappointing ending to a series …..
I was initially giving this book 4 ⭐️ because I was liking Seb style and Yelena. Than Yelena proved to be weak not at all the fierce Valkyrie Seb keeps referring her as. She literally never told Seb anything, for a girl that was born into mafia and with a demon of a father she was awfully naive and stupid to believe he was fine with her relationship. He never ever had any respect to anything she said or for her life and then out of nowhere he accepts your idea of a deal between the families through marriage and YOU FUCKING BELIEVED HIM ???? How this is a fierce intelligent mafia princess?
On the other hand we have Seb going into the relationship and deal as innocent as a Bambi when he was also born into this. We have Nero BARELY participating in the book and when he does is to almost die because the nefarious intelligent crazy Nero did not have a gun on him in a wedding where the demon made sure no one participated. WHAT? Than the BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT of the series to me is Dante. I can’t believe he was my favorite because his book was god awful and in this book he was a little pussy who LITERALLY abandoned his family to live in Paris with the stupid weak annoying Simone that left and hid his son for 9 years. Dante went to the wedding very last minute and than after all the tragedy he FUCKING TURNS HIS BACK ON HIS BABY BROTHER WHOS ALONE AND HURT , WHILE NERO IS IN A COMA IN THE HOSPITAL, HIS FATHER IS DEAD and he just basically says “let bygones be bygones “ WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ! I am so mad that I will now reduce the rating to 1⭐️
This book was basically the destruction of the Gallo family. Each to their own side, no family together, like it would be perfect to see, the Griffins to their side , Riona is not even mentioned. Aida and Callum at least did something to help in the end. The best one is Miko. I always loved him.
Than to make me even more angry Seb doesn’t kill stupid Adrian. So his father dies, he allows his mother/father/their century old home full of memories and pictures and sentiments to burn, and you fucking allow the villain to walk ? OMG I AM SO MAD ! I don’t even want to read Kingmaker now. 😡🤬😤
I started loving the family bond the Gallo’s had and Dante was my favorite, I ended up the series actually loving MIKO, Aida and Riona. Don’t care about the others
I was initially giving this book 4 ⭐️ because I was liking Seb style and Yelena. Than Yelena proved to be weak not at all the fierce Valkyrie Seb keeps referring her as. She literally never told Seb anything, for a girl that was born into mafia and with a demon of a father she was awfully naive and stupid to believe he was fine with her relationship. He never ever had any respect to anything she said or for her life and then out of nowhere he accepts your idea of a deal between the families through marriage and YOU FUCKING BELIEVED HIM ???? How this is a fierce intelligent mafia princess?
On the other hand we have Seb going into the relationship and deal as innocent as a Bambi when he was also born into this. We have Nero BARELY participating in the book and when he does is to almost die because the nefarious intelligent crazy Nero did not have a gun on him in a wedding where the demon made sure no one participated. WHAT? Than the BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT of the series to me is Dante. I can’t believe he was my favorite because his book was god awful and in this book he was a little pussy who LITERALLY abandoned his family to live in Paris with the stupid weak annoying Simone that left and hid his son for 9 years. Dante went to the wedding very last minute and than after all the tragedy he FUCKING TURNS HIS BACK ON HIS BABY BROTHER WHOS ALONE AND HURT , WHILE NERO IS IN A COMA IN THE HOSPITAL, HIS FATHER IS DEAD and he just basically says “let bygones be bygones “ WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ! I am so mad that I will now reduce the rating to 1⭐️
This book was basically the destruction of the Gallo family. Each to their own side, no family together, like it would be perfect to see, the Griffins to their side , Riona is not even mentioned. Aida and Callum at least did something to help in the end. The best one is Miko. I always loved him.
Than to make me even more angry Seb doesn’t kill stupid Adrian. So his father dies, he allows his mother/father/their century old home full of memories and pictures and sentiments to burn, and you fucking allow the villain to walk ? OMG I AM SO MAD ! I don’t even want to read Kingmaker now. 😡🤬😤
I started loving the family bond the Gallo’s had and Dante was my favorite, I ended up the series actually loving MIKO, Aida and Riona. Don’t care about the others
August 21, 2021
So, this started off great. I adored Sebastian and Yelena and I loved how Sophie Lark delved into their characterisation.
Sebastian is looking for purpose in his life after his dream was taken away. Yelena is dealing with an extremely toxic home life and being used by her father for all things mafia.
The whole tone of the book was somewhat bleak at first. Which I liked. There was a great focus on developing our characters and their mafia world.
But when the plot took centre stage, I started to lose interest. There was too much plot. The ending started to feel rushed and it felt like the author was just jumping ahead, trying to get to the next plot, the next part of the story and setting up the spin-off series, rather than weaving it in. The writing started to feel disjointed.
It needed to slow down. We deserved more of an emotional resolve between Sebastian, Yelena and his family, after the revenge plot, but things were too quickly forgiven and understood. Which is all nice and fine, but this world isn't nice.
Anyway, I can't wait to see what Sophie Lark has in store for the spin-off series. A mafia school inspired by Hogwarts? Yes!
Sebastian is looking for purpose in his life after his dream was taken away. Yelena is dealing with an extremely toxic home life and being used by her father for all things mafia.
The whole tone of the book was somewhat bleak at first. Which I liked. There was a great focus on developing our characters and their mafia world.
But when the plot took centre stage, I started to lose interest. There was too much plot. The ending started to feel rushed and it felt like the author was just jumping ahead, trying to get to the next plot, the next part of the story and setting up the spin-off series, rather than weaving it in. The writing started to feel disjointed.
It needed to slow down. We deserved more of an emotional resolve between Sebastian, Yelena and his family, after the revenge plot, but things were too quickly forgiven and understood. Which is all nice and fine, but this world isn't nice.
Anyway, I can't wait to see what Sophie Lark has in store for the spin-off series. A mafia school inspired by Hogwarts? Yes!
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July 27, 2021
The Russians engage the Italians in a brutal chess game in this final instalment of the Brutal Birthright series.
The plot and action scenes are quite solid.
However, I didn't care for the characters or their romance all that much.
Riona's book remains my favorite.
The plot and action scenes are quite solid.
However, I didn't care for the characters or their romance all that much.
Riona's book remains my favorite.
January 20, 2024
Changing my rating to 3.7 stars but mostly for Yelena and Sebastian. If I counted the plot and other characters, the rating would be way less.
The book wasn't as terrible as some of the 1-star reviews are saying. The wedding scene was crazy enough for me to read twice. I actually thought the author was gonna kill off because he was shot so many times 😭. I'm so glad he was okay.
I was so disappointed in some of the characters especially Dante. HOW could he leave like that when his dad just died, is in the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, and his youngest brother is left with the weight of the world on his shoulders? All this chaos and what does Dante do? Hightails it out of there. I expected him to help Sebastian at least a little, but he didn't. It felt like he abandoned them when they needed him the most. He couldn't even stay for who was in the hospital?? Tf? It just didn't make sense to me. Sebastian was so shocked at his departure:
“I can’t believe he’ll actually leave. Not now, when we need him the most.
But he’s already hoisting his suitcase, picking it up as easily as if it were empty.
“[...] I’m not coming back this time.”
I stare at him, unbelieving.”
I felt so bad for him.
Callum's not much better. They're practically family, but he only lends a hand in the end because Aida practically had to beg him, reminding him they both owe Sebastian. I'm disappointed the author wrote these characters this way. FFS, Callum's dad took out the previous Russian boss! It's one of the reasons Alexei Yenin was so pissed and bitter.
I just know would have helped with the revenge if he wasn't suffering from horrific wounds.
And let's not forget that SEBASTIAN helped each and every one of his siblings in their respective books 😭 So imo, he was heavily let down. He deserved better.
Needless to say, Dante is my least favourite Gallo after this book.
The only one who truly helped him was Mikolaj ❤️ I love him even more for that. I love their friendship.
I liked Sebastian enough. Yelena was at times pretty wishy-washy but she was compelling. The naiveté of both these characters was actually pretty heart-breaking. I know it pissed some readers off. Overall, I really liked them as a couple.
The book wasn't as terrible as some of the 1-star reviews are saying. The wedding scene was crazy enough for me to read twice. I actually thought the author was gonna kill off because he was shot so many times 😭. I'm so glad he was okay.
I was so disappointed in some of the characters especially Dante. HOW could he leave like that when his dad just died, is in the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, and his youngest brother is left with the weight of the world on his shoulders? All this chaos and what does Dante do? Hightails it out of there. I expected him to help Sebastian at least a little, but he didn't. It felt like he abandoned them when they needed him the most. He couldn't even stay for who was in the hospital?? Tf? It just didn't make sense to me. Sebastian was so shocked at his departure:
“I can’t believe he’ll actually leave. Not now, when we need him the most.
But he’s already hoisting his suitcase, picking it up as easily as if it were empty.
“[...] I’m not coming back this time.”
I stare at him, unbelieving.”
I felt so bad for him.
Callum's not much better. They're practically family, but he only lends a hand in the end because Aida practically had to beg him, reminding him they both owe Sebastian. I'm disappointed the author wrote these characters this way. FFS, Callum's dad took out the previous Russian boss! It's one of the reasons Alexei Yenin was so pissed and bitter.
I just know would have helped with the revenge if he wasn't suffering from horrific wounds.
And let's not forget that SEBASTIAN helped each and every one of his siblings in their respective books 😭 So imo, he was heavily let down. He deserved better.
Needless to say, Dante is my least favourite Gallo after this book.
The only one who truly helped him was Mikolaj ❤️ I love him even more for that. I love their friendship.
I liked Sebastian enough. Yelena was at times pretty wishy-washy but she was compelling. The naiveté of both these characters was actually pretty heart-breaking. I know it pissed some readers off. Overall, I really liked them as a couple.
March 24, 2021
I was looking forward to Sebastian's book ever since book 1. Heavy Crown was not what I was expecting and to be honest I feel a little disappointed with how his book turned out.
I didn't buy Sebastian and Yelena's relationship, it moved at incredibly fast pace and it felt really rushed. I just didn't feel like they fitted together, not like the other couples in the series. I preferred them as individual people.
I liked getting into Sebastian's head and finally learning what he is feeling after got his knee smashed in at the start of book 1. It was also nice to see a darker side of him, seeing as he was always portrayed at the peacemaker of the family and as someone who wanted nothing to do with the family business. Though he was quite naive and gullible at the start.
Actually, thinking about it, the entire Gallo family were quite naive in this book. They didn't have the same feel to them as they did in previous books. They also felt quite disconnected from each other; I didn't feel like they shared that unique familial bond. It didn't feel like they had each other's backs like they did in the past. All the characters are going in different directions and there was really sad about that.
Yelena was also an interesting character, being the daughter of the boss of the Russian mafia and and Gallo's number 1 enemy. I must admit I didn't like her at the beginning, as she was really selfish and dishonest but she redeemed herself about half way through, when she continued to prove that she really cares about Sebastian.
I don't mean to sound nunnish, but I didn't like that Sebastian and Yelena didn't talk about protection. Not once. Yelena was a virgin and Sebastian didn't take the necessary precautions to protect her. That kind of stood out for me.
Overall, I thought that this book could have been so much better, but nevertheless I enjoyed it. That being said, I enjoyed the other books in the series way more so I am a bit sad that the series didn't finish on a high note as I expected it to. I am looking forward to the spin off series of these characters' children though! That should be interesting.
I didn't buy Sebastian and Yelena's relationship, it moved at incredibly fast pace and it felt really rushed. I just didn't feel like they fitted together, not like the other couples in the series. I preferred them as individual people.
I liked getting into Sebastian's head and finally learning what he is feeling after got his knee smashed in at the start of book 1. It was also nice to see a darker side of him, seeing as he was always portrayed at the peacemaker of the family and as someone who wanted nothing to do with the family business. Though he was quite naive and gullible at the start.
Actually, thinking about it, the entire Gallo family were quite naive in this book. They didn't have the same feel to them as they did in previous books. They also felt quite disconnected from each other; I didn't feel like they shared that unique familial bond. It didn't feel like they had each other's backs like they did in the past. All the characters are going in different directions and there was really sad about that.
Yelena was also an interesting character, being the daughter of the boss of the Russian mafia and and Gallo's number 1 enemy. I must admit I didn't like her at the beginning, as she was really selfish and dishonest but she redeemed herself about half way through, when she continued to prove that she really cares about Sebastian.
I don't mean to sound nunnish, but I didn't like that Sebastian and Yelena didn't talk about protection. Not once. Yelena was a virgin and Sebastian didn't take the necessary precautions to protect her. That kind of stood out for me.
Overall, I thought that this book could have been so much better, but nevertheless I enjoyed it. That being said, I enjoyed the other books in the series way more so I am a bit sad that the series didn't finish on a high note as I expected it to. I am looking forward to the spin off series of these characters' children though! That should be interesting.
March 1, 2022
4.25⭐️ Wow — what an amazing way to end this series. When we were first introduced to Sebastian I automatically fell in love with him (Nero is still my #1 Gallo though). His book did not disappoint AT ALL. I adored Yelena and this couple was literally so perfect for each other.
The twists and turns this plot took had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I also loved getting to see Sebastian’s character development. I think this was the perfect way to tie up the Brutal Birthright series. I can’t wait to read the Kingmakers series next!
“Play the opening like a book. The middlegame like a magician. And the endgame like a machine.”
The twists and turns this plot took had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I also loved getting to see Sebastian’s character development. I think this was the perfect way to tie up the Brutal Birthright series. I can’t wait to read the Kingmakers series next!
“Play the opening like a book. The middlegame like a magician. And the endgame like a machine.”
February 27, 2025
I just knew Nero wouldn't get away with stealing that diamond 🤣. What a great ending to a series. This book is definitely not for everyone but for one I enjoyed it.
I just wished Sophie wouldn't have made Dante act like a wimp 💀🤣 their dad just died and instead of revenge he flew back to Paris to stay with Selena🙄. I mean I get it he has his own family but come on that was HEARTLESS😭
I do wish Yelena and her brother Adrian to reconcile in the next series which involves their children.
On to the Kingsman series 🤭
I just wished Sophie wouldn't have made Dante act like a wimp 💀🤣 their dad just died and instead of revenge he flew back to Paris to stay with Selena🙄. I mean I get it he has his own family but come on that was HEARTLESS😭
I do wish Yelena and her brother Adrian to reconcile in the next series which involves their children.
On to the Kingsman series 🤭
May 28, 2022
Heavy Crown is not the best of this series. A lot of readers has been waiting for Seb, the youngest story. The story could be good, but the writting and the plot made me confuse.
Miss Lark signature writing is rushed at the end. After building so much tension on the plot, she abruptly ending everything.
The love story between Seb and Yelene was sweet and tender at the beginning, then turned savage. I do not like Yelena. She is too much of drama queen.
3 stars
Miss Lark signature writing is rushed at the end. After building so much tension on the plot, she abruptly ending everything.
The love story between Seb and Yelene was sweet and tender at the beginning, then turned savage. I do not like Yelena. She is too much of drama queen.
3 stars
February 19, 2023
2.5⭐️
Ughh 🫤
Ughh 🫤
November 28, 2025
I am 80% or so through this audiobook, almost finished, but this was already a 1 star at the 30-40% mark.
A stupid bitch, dumb as rocks heroine with no sense of of pride or self preservation.
She finally escapes the dungeon her husband puts her in, and instead of doing something smart, she willingly puts herself in danger, trying to play hero on a family (brother/father/husband) who couldn't give two shits about her.
If she were just dumb, that would be one thing, but she was also desperate with no backbone as well, because she literally got shot saving Sebastian's life, only for him to not give a shit about that and put her in a dungeon for days, then come down to humiliate her with anal sex with no lube.
Yet, all she wanted was to "please" him... Girl, look how he's treating you! You think you deserve that because you "love" him...?!
Pathetic.
I'll forgive stupid (sometimes), but desperate, no pride and no sense of self-worth is where I draw the line with heroines.
Stand the fuck up, girl!
This is so far the worst couple I have read from Sophie Lark. And that is saying something, since I didn't even like any of the couples that preceeded this one...
A stupid bitch, dumb as rocks heroine with no sense of of pride or self preservation.
She finally escapes the dungeon her husband puts her in, and instead of doing something smart, she willingly puts herself in danger, trying to play hero on a family (brother/father/husband) who couldn't give two shits about her.
If she were just dumb, that would be one thing, but she was also desperate with no backbone as well, because she literally got shot saving Sebastian's life, only for him to not give a shit about that and put her in a dungeon for days, then come down to humiliate her with anal sex with no lube.
Yet, all she wanted was to "please" him... Girl, look how he's treating you! You think you deserve that because you "love" him...?!
Pathetic.
I'll forgive stupid (sometimes), but desperate, no pride and no sense of self-worth is where I draw the line with heroines.
Stand the fuck up, girl!
This is so far the worst couple I have read from Sophie Lark. And that is saying something, since I didn't even like any of the couples that preceeded this one...
February 25, 2023
SLAYYY
November 20, 2021
She’s a Russian Trojan Horse.
He’s a fool in love and the de facto head of what’s left of his crime family.
It all goes as expected. Sadness, heat, revenge, peace, friendship, losses and gains.
As the youngest, Seb is the last story of this generation.
In some ways, this was the best of the series… in other ways, it was the worst.
For me, the author took it too fast where it mattered and too slow where it didn’t. I wanted more - a stronger connection between the MCs and more focus on them verses the action surrounding them.
The storyline is hard to handle. It’s a fresh cut for Seb in that he’s getting his own drama, family role, and HEA, but there’s also so much insertion to finish out the arc from the previous books… or rather set up the next generation arc from the offspring of those characters. In a way, that sort of stole the spotlight from Seb and his lady. Yet, even in that, I felt discontented.
Even in the wrap up of the series’ storyline, the author hit hard in some places and left others dangling in the air. We get a lot from Nessa, but barely nothing from the rest of the series. Examples - Cam’s little brother and his father <<< why make that such a big deal in Nero’s book (3) if it wasn’t ever going to be tied up by the end of the series? Did Cam and Nero ever get married and have kids? What did Dante do for a living if not mafia … it’s hard to imagine him as some stay at home dad while his model wife makes the living.
Anyway, I expected the author to make one final weave to include ALL the previous characters so that the series ends with a final page in the script of their futures, but it didn’t. That was disappointing. I don’t think the series ended neatly. I don’t feel satisfied with the closure of this generation before/after skipping ahead 18 years for this book’s epilogue to set up the next generation’s series. Yes, a Vampire Academy type situation for mafia children sounds exciting, but it’s hard to jump on that series when this series feels so inconclusive.
Back to Seb and Yel.
The dungeon scene is a perfect example of why I hate and love this author’s style. It’s intense. I understood it. It’s fiery. Yet, the “daddy” inclusion is like flying down the road at 120 mph and jerking up the emergency brake. It was unnaturally forced in there and just seemed like a shock sticker for the hell of it.
The twin bro plot felt cheapened. There seemed to be no reason for this relationship dynamic to go from twin bond to bitter hate. Their bond couldn’t have been that special if it was broken so easily, and all that basically occurred off page, which further disconnected the reader from understanding it.
Even the connection between Seb and Yel is mostly built off page… ie the author tells you it’s happening, but doesn’t show you. I love the result of their connection, but I wish more time had been taken pouring the foundation of it and less time in the fluffy plot points… such as the mute dude’s obsession with Yel, which went absolutely NOWHERE. Why lay all that ground work of him looking, watching, etc only to have it be nothing of importance to the story?
The breakdown of the all for one family unit. This is a far cry from book one and a mob daughter and son forced into marriage - no questions, they did it because of both love, duty, respect, and fear of their families. This book seems like a different universe. I understand it … for real life… but the mob doesn’t work like real life. It’s a lifer thing. Yet, here we have each family just breaking apart and going their separate ways, doing their own thing, and basically saying fuck the larger family now that I have my own lil family. I didn’t get that. I didn’t appreciate it within the world that the author created as a whole and then segmented for the sake of safety and peace.
I SAY ALL OF THIS AS A FAN. I say it in constructive criticism. I say it all because I have rarely ever read two, much less six books, in any series. By two, I’m usually bored and done. The fact I read all of the series speaks to the author’s raw talent. This could’ve, should’ve been five stars across the board, but too many little things held it back.
He’s a fool in love and the de facto head of what’s left of his crime family.
It all goes as expected. Sadness, heat, revenge, peace, friendship, losses and gains.
As the youngest, Seb is the last story of this generation.
In some ways, this was the best of the series… in other ways, it was the worst.
For me, the author took it too fast where it mattered and too slow where it didn’t. I wanted more - a stronger connection between the MCs and more focus on them verses the action surrounding them.
The storyline is hard to handle. It’s a fresh cut for Seb in that he’s getting his own drama, family role, and HEA, but there’s also so much insertion to finish out the arc from the previous books… or rather set up the next generation arc from the offspring of those characters. In a way, that sort of stole the spotlight from Seb and his lady. Yet, even in that, I felt discontented.
Even in the wrap up of the series’ storyline, the author hit hard in some places and left others dangling in the air. We get a lot from Nessa, but barely nothing from the rest of the series. Examples - Cam’s little brother and his father <<< why make that such a big deal in Nero’s book (3) if it wasn’t ever going to be tied up by the end of the series? Did Cam and Nero ever get married and have kids? What did Dante do for a living if not mafia … it’s hard to imagine him as some stay at home dad while his model wife makes the living.
Anyway, I expected the author to make one final weave to include ALL the previous characters so that the series ends with a final page in the script of their futures, but it didn’t. That was disappointing. I don’t think the series ended neatly. I don’t feel satisfied with the closure of this generation before/after skipping ahead 18 years for this book’s epilogue to set up the next generation’s series. Yes, a Vampire Academy type situation for mafia children sounds exciting, but it’s hard to jump on that series when this series feels so inconclusive.
Back to Seb and Yel.
The dungeon scene is a perfect example of why I hate and love this author’s style. It’s intense. I understood it. It’s fiery. Yet, the “daddy” inclusion is like flying down the road at 120 mph and jerking up the emergency brake. It was unnaturally forced in there and just seemed like a shock sticker for the hell of it.
The twin bro plot felt cheapened. There seemed to be no reason for this relationship dynamic to go from twin bond to bitter hate. Their bond couldn’t have been that special if it was broken so easily, and all that basically occurred off page, which further disconnected the reader from understanding it.
Even the connection between Seb and Yel is mostly built off page… ie the author tells you it’s happening, but doesn’t show you. I love the result of their connection, but I wish more time had been taken pouring the foundation of it and less time in the fluffy plot points… such as the mute dude’s obsession with Yel, which went absolutely NOWHERE. Why lay all that ground work of him looking, watching, etc only to have it be nothing of importance to the story?
The breakdown of the all for one family unit. This is a far cry from book one and a mob daughter and son forced into marriage - no questions, they did it because of both love, duty, respect, and fear of their families. This book seems like a different universe. I understand it … for real life… but the mob doesn’t work like real life. It’s a lifer thing. Yet, here we have each family just breaking apart and going their separate ways, doing their own thing, and basically saying fuck the larger family now that I have my own lil family. I didn’t get that. I didn’t appreciate it within the world that the author created as a whole and then segmented for the sake of safety and peace.
I SAY ALL OF THIS AS A FAN. I say it in constructive criticism. I say it all because I have rarely ever read two, much less six books, in any series. By two, I’m usually bored and done. The fact I read all of the series speaks to the author’s raw talent. This could’ve, should’ve been five stars across the board, but too many little things held it back.
January 6, 2021
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review!
5 Stars for Sebastian!
“For every blow, return three more,” I recite. “Our fury overwhelms their greed.”
Wow! Talk about ending with a bang. Heavy Crown is the sixth and final installment in the Brutal Birthright series. Sebastian Gallo is the younger Gallo brother, whose dreams of making a name for himself outside of the Italian mafia crumbled before him when he was forced to quit basketball due to a knee injury. Sebastian has always been in the background of the other books, the broody brother who thought himself good, but who has killed and toughened up to protect his family.
Finally getting Sebastian’s POV was so exciting for me, as I’ve loved his character since his introduction in Brutal Prince. He did not disappoint one bit. The Sebastian we meet here is more somber than meets the eye. He isn’t this happy-go-lucky person, and the mistakes of his siblings have shaped him into this character that really struggles internally to find his place within the mafia. Throughout the book, we see the journey to his acceptance of the lifestyle, and Sebastian begins to really embody and embrace some of those values, but also become a happier and fulfilled character.
Dealing with the loss of his sports career and seeing as his siblings made their lives took its emotional toll on him, and I appreciated the discussion of his different feelings throughout it all. Enter: Yelena.
Yelena Yenina is a Bratva princess, the only daughter of the new Pakhan of Chicago. Theirs is not a meet cute, per se. Sebastian meets Yelena as she is kicking and flailing, trying to resist a kidnapping attempt. Sebastian, who really is as noble as that scenes suggests, saves Yelena from her would-be captor and they spend the evening together at a party. There is, of course, a twist to this seemingly chance encounter, but the sparks between the two are undeniable.
Throughout a summer of power plays and mafia rivalries, Yelena and Sebastian fall in love. This story is one that is certainly unexpected, with so many twists and turns that will have you at the edge of your seat. Sophie Lark has a very engaging and entertaining way of writing. Whether you’re a newbie to mafia romance or a more seasoned reader, her stories have a way of captivating any audience. This was the shortest long book I read because of how easily the story flowed and how immersed I became in the story once I started reading. It’s definitely hard to put down. Though at times I felt disconnected from Yelena’s character, in particular, the romance as a whole was very sweet and the steam between those two definitely had me slack jawed more than once.
This one was very plot heavy, with the mafia politics being central to even the romantic development. For those that prefer romance with a sprinkle of plot, this could be a problem, but I urge you to give this book a chance, because the action really made the book and helped tie up the series and lay the perfect foundation for a second generation. Though easily read as a standalone, this book brought back in prior protagonists in an organic way and gave us a glimpse at all our favorites.
I can’t wait to see what Sophie does with the spin-off series of the kids of these wonderful characters we all became so endeared with.
5 Stars for Sebastian!
“For every blow, return three more,” I recite. “Our fury overwhelms their greed.”
Wow! Talk about ending with a bang. Heavy Crown is the sixth and final installment in the Brutal Birthright series. Sebastian Gallo is the younger Gallo brother, whose dreams of making a name for himself outside of the Italian mafia crumbled before him when he was forced to quit basketball due to a knee injury. Sebastian has always been in the background of the other books, the broody brother who thought himself good, but who has killed and toughened up to protect his family.
Finally getting Sebastian’s POV was so exciting for me, as I’ve loved his character since his introduction in Brutal Prince. He did not disappoint one bit. The Sebastian we meet here is more somber than meets the eye. He isn’t this happy-go-lucky person, and the mistakes of his siblings have shaped him into this character that really struggles internally to find his place within the mafia. Throughout the book, we see the journey to his acceptance of the lifestyle, and Sebastian begins to really embody and embrace some of those values, but also become a happier and fulfilled character.
Dealing with the loss of his sports career and seeing as his siblings made their lives took its emotional toll on him, and I appreciated the discussion of his different feelings throughout it all. Enter: Yelena.
Yelena Yenina is a Bratva princess, the only daughter of the new Pakhan of Chicago. Theirs is not a meet cute, per se. Sebastian meets Yelena as she is kicking and flailing, trying to resist a kidnapping attempt. Sebastian, who really is as noble as that scenes suggests, saves Yelena from her would-be captor and they spend the evening together at a party. There is, of course, a twist to this seemingly chance encounter, but the sparks between the two are undeniable.
Throughout a summer of power plays and mafia rivalries, Yelena and Sebastian fall in love. This story is one that is certainly unexpected, with so many twists and turns that will have you at the edge of your seat. Sophie Lark has a very engaging and entertaining way of writing. Whether you’re a newbie to mafia romance or a more seasoned reader, her stories have a way of captivating any audience. This was the shortest long book I read because of how easily the story flowed and how immersed I became in the story once I started reading. It’s definitely hard to put down. Though at times I felt disconnected from Yelena’s character, in particular, the romance as a whole was very sweet and the steam between those two definitely had me slack jawed more than once.
This one was very plot heavy, with the mafia politics being central to even the romantic development. For those that prefer romance with a sprinkle of plot, this could be a problem, but I urge you to give this book a chance, because the action really made the book and helped tie up the series and lay the perfect foundation for a second generation. Though easily read as a standalone, this book brought back in prior protagonists in an organic way and gave us a glimpse at all our favorites.
I can’t wait to see what Sophie does with the spin-off series of the kids of these wonderful characters we all became so endeared with.
September 9, 2021
The final installment in the Brutal Birthright and wow. What a trip it’s been.
Sebastian and Yelena’s story wasn’t perfect, but still pretty damn good. It is the most 'mafia' heavy, content wise, out of the entire Brutal Birthright series and let 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 tell 👏🏼 you! Sophie Lark really knows how to write action and violence really well, and Seb's character arc was magnificent: heartbreaking, bittersweet, and hopeful all at once.
Seb and Yelena started out being the gentle-hearted ones of their families and ended up so ruthless in the end, it was delicious. While the story started out being romance-heavy at the beginning, it didn’t continue evolving to be most swoon-worthy romance throughout in order to give way to the plot. But I actually didn’t mind it all.
The action and devastating things that happened got me flipping the pages fast and I very nearly SCREAMED when my kindle had the audacity to auto-update while I was in the middle of the confrontation/mafia war scene. 😤
But bitccchhhhh that epilogue!!! It’s been a long time since I got excited for a new series, much less a college romance about mafia hogwarts. 😭😭😭❤️
~ Buddy reading this series with Warda has been such a blast. Can't wait to start the next Sophie Lark series for us to binge!~
Sebastian and Yelena’s story wasn’t perfect, but still pretty damn good. It is the most 'mafia' heavy, content wise, out of the entire Brutal Birthright series and let 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 tell 👏🏼 you! Sophie Lark really knows how to write action and violence really well, and Seb's character arc was magnificent: heartbreaking, bittersweet, and hopeful all at once.
Seb and Yelena started out being the gentle-hearted ones of their families and ended up so ruthless in the end, it was delicious. While the story started out being romance-heavy at the beginning, it didn’t continue evolving to be most swoon-worthy romance throughout in order to give way to the plot. But I actually didn’t mind it all.
The action and devastating things that happened got me flipping the pages fast and I very nearly SCREAMED when my kindle had the audacity to auto-update while I was in the middle of the confrontation/mafia war scene. 😤
But bitccchhhhh that epilogue!!! It’s been a long time since I got excited for a new series, much less a college romance about mafia hogwarts. 😭😭😭❤️
~ Buddy reading this series with Warda has been such a blast. Can't wait to start the next Sophie Lark series for us to binge!~
February 17, 2022
4.5⭐️
WHAT AN ENDING TO A SERIES!!!!!
This finale was better than I expected to be. I love that she tie in all of the plots to a finale worth remembering. It's filled with all the mafia that you can get. I love the cameo of the side characters, missing Riona and Raylan but I think they are enjoying life outside of the mafia world.
I love this book, it was heavily focused on the plot but it was so entertaining that had you at the edge of your seat. The romance was great, love Yelena and Sebastian but the book was more focused on the plot, which I didn't mind much. Also, great character growth especially for Sebastian.
Overall, AMAZING SERIES. I'm so glad that I chose this one to be my first mafia series and it really set the tone for the others. I love every character especially the Gallo family. They really steal the show. I'm gonna miss them but I'm glad that Sophie Lark invented a series for the kids.
THAT EPILOGUE? I really thought that I was going to wait a little bit for Kingmakers but I just want to start it right now.
WHAT AN ENDING TO A SERIES!!!!!
This finale was better than I expected to be. I love that she tie in all of the plots to a finale worth remembering. It's filled with all the mafia that you can get. I love the cameo of the side characters, missing Riona and Raylan but I think they are enjoying life outside of the mafia world.
I love this book, it was heavily focused on the plot but it was so entertaining that had you at the edge of your seat. The romance was great, love Yelena and Sebastian but the book was more focused on the plot, which I didn't mind much. Also, great character growth especially for Sebastian.
Overall, AMAZING SERIES. I'm so glad that I chose this one to be my first mafia series and it really set the tone for the others. I love every character especially the Gallo family. They really steal the show. I'm gonna miss them but I'm glad that Sophie Lark invented a series for the kids.
THAT EPILOGUE? I really thought that I was going to wait a little bit for Kingmakers but I just want to start it right now.
October 4, 2021
Reread.
Realized I never wrote a review for this book the first time. I was so excited to real more that I didn't take the time.
Yelena and Seb are such a unique couple. Their forbidden romance is full of beginnings and also... endings and rebirth..
I love so much about the Brutal Birthright series. This was the perfect cherry on top and the perfect lead up to The Kingmaker series. But I'm so glad I reread it so I could get a better appreciation of this story without rushing forward for more.
5/5 stars
Realized I never wrote a review for this book the first time. I was so excited to real more that I didn't take the time.
Yelena and Seb are such a unique couple. Their forbidden romance is full of beginnings and also... endings and rebirth..
I love so much about the Brutal Birthright series. This was the perfect cherry on top and the perfect lead up to The Kingmaker series. But I'm so glad I reread it so I could get a better appreciation of this story without rushing forward for more.
5/5 stars
February 18, 2024
the worst in the series, overall good ending, but I didn't like Sebastian and Yelena, the red wedding was rude, I just wanted sth more
March 4, 2024
This book was another lesson for me to not roam Kmart and select books based on pretty covers alone. And even more, to make note of what a series is :P It didn't click that I’d read book 1…and promptly ignored the 4 other books in between. The premise of this story was good: a Romeo and Juliet style of ill-fated lovers from opposing mafia clans. But the execution soon became predictable, the characters embarrassingly short-sighted, and especially Yelena, who seemed to deflate rather than expand. As far as the mafia romance goes, one scene in particular did not sit well with me, the intimacy feeling too similar to emotional manipulation between Yelena and Sebastian.
February 6, 2024
stars: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
apparently love not only makes you blind, it also makes you naive and stupid. the fmc kept making the worst possible decisions. it was infuriating.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
apparently love not only makes you blind, it also makes you naive and stupid. the fmc kept making the worst possible decisions. it was infuriating.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
For my first try with this author, Heavy Crown was a good one. It had found family, plenty of action, some dark and sad moments, and tons of chemistry between the main characters.
Unlike his siblings, Sebastian was footloose and fancy free. He was starting to think that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he should be. When Yelena crosses his path, things start looking up. She's absolutely gorgeous, a fierce warrior, and everything he could want in a woman. Too bad her father was the leader of the Bratva, his family's enemy. But isn't forbidden fruit so much sweeter?
It was easy to like both characters. There wasn't a lot of depth to them, or to the story, but it worked for me. There was something light about this book that softened the blow of all of its dark moments.
This is the sixth standalone in the series and it did read like a story that could stand alone. However, it also gave me just enough of the side characters that I want to read more about them. So I'll be going back to the beginning.
Find more here: Heavy Crown
Unlike his siblings, Sebastian was footloose and fancy free. He was starting to think that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he should be. When Yelena crosses his path, things start looking up. She's absolutely gorgeous, a fierce warrior, and everything he could want in a woman. Too bad her father was the leader of the Bratva, his family's enemy. But isn't forbidden fruit so much sweeter?
It was easy to like both characters. There wasn't a lot of depth to them, or to the story, but it worked for me. There was something light about this book that softened the blow of all of its dark moments.
This is the sixth standalone in the series and it did read like a story that could stand alone. However, it also gave me just enough of the side characters that I want to read more about them. So I'll be going back to the beginning.
Find more here: Heavy Crown
October 4, 2021
3.5⭐️
kinda disappointing especially after i read broken vow. i loved that book so much and i wanted to love this one just as much but i didn't. it was a good book with a good ending. i'm just sad.
i don't like how dante acted in this book. made me hate simone even more than i do. i mean really? you wouldn't stay for your own family because your wife says so. eh. i don't like how he changed characters because of her.
i love seb and yelena together they were cute and crazy at the end. i wish this wasn't insta love because i just don't see the flavor with that trope. it just makes me hate the book (i don't hate it, i'm just pissed).
ranking of the books from best to least fav:
1. broken vow
2. brutal prince
3. stolen heir & heavy crown
4. bloody heart
5. savage lover
even though i liked savage lover the least, the worst couple is def from bloody heart. big no. BIG NO.
“Sometimes when you’re denied the usual pleasures . . . you find other ways to entertain your mind.”
kinda disappointing especially after i read broken vow. i loved that book so much and i wanted to love this one just as much but i didn't. it was a good book with a good ending. i'm just sad.
i don't like how dante acted in this book. made me hate simone even more than i do. i mean really? you wouldn't stay for your own family because your wife says so. eh. i don't like how he changed characters because of her.
i love seb and yelena together they were cute and crazy at the end. i wish this wasn't insta love because i just don't see the flavor with that trope. it just makes me hate the book (i don't hate it, i'm just pissed).
ranking of the books from best to least fav:
1. broken vow
2. brutal prince
3. stolen heir & heavy crown
4. bloody heart
5. savage lover
even though i liked savage lover the least, the worst couple is def from bloody heart. big no. BIG NO.
February 5, 2025
ok well!! series wrapped up well and I am successfully intrigued about King Makers, but the whole series was CARRIED on the backs of Riona + Raylan. I don’t make the rules! I just follow them!!
sebastian and yelena felt very insta-lovey for my tastes and pissed me the FFUUUUUU off in the first 60%. it for sure picked up from there, but the last half of the book felt rushed while the first part felt a lil’ dragged out.
(they were still hot tho, duh)
sebastian and yelena felt very insta-lovey for my tastes and pissed me the FFUUUUUU off in the first 60%. it for sure picked up from there, but the last half of the book felt rushed while the first part felt a lil’ dragged out.
(they were still hot tho, duh)
August 11, 2021
What a fantastic conclusion, with a perfect setup for The Kingmaker series. The plotting in this was perfectly done, it was action packed and surprising, and the romance was sooooo swoony too. This was just so good. What a great series. Can't wait for the next one!
October 7, 2024
₊‧.°.⋆ 4 stars ⋆.°.‧₊
this book was an excellent way to conclude the series. from the moment sebastian was introduced, i was smitten. his story did not disappoint in the slightest. i loved the dynamic between sebastian and yelena; they were perfect for each other. their journey wasn't without flaws, but it was incredibly compelling. this installment had the strongest mafia element in the entire series. the focus on the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, even though the romance was also wonderful. yelena and sebastian were fantastic and the character development, especially for sebastian, was truly remarkable.
i first read the kingmakers series before this one, and it made me somewhat sad to realize how close yelena and adrian had been since they were kids in this book, how they loved, adored, and protected each other, only for them to never reconcile in the future. it was also sad to see how much adrian had changed in the kingmakers series.
overall, i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was great to see everyone coming together for a final time, united, stronger than ever, and prepared to face whatever came their way.
——— ˗ˋ ୨ 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ୧ ˊ˗ ———
❥ “ there's no pleasure quite like reading, is there? sometimes it's the only thing that eases my mind. ”
this book was an excellent way to conclude the series. from the moment sebastian was introduced, i was smitten. his story did not disappoint in the slightest. i loved the dynamic between sebastian and yelena; they were perfect for each other. their journey wasn't without flaws, but it was incredibly compelling. this installment had the strongest mafia element in the entire series. the focus on the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, even though the romance was also wonderful. yelena and sebastian were fantastic and the character development, especially for sebastian, was truly remarkable.
i first read the kingmakers series before this one, and it made me somewhat sad to realize how close yelena and adrian had been since they were kids in this book, how they loved, adored, and protected each other, only for them to never reconcile in the future. it was also sad to see how much adrian had changed in the kingmakers series.
overall, i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was great to see everyone coming together for a final time, united, stronger than ever, and prepared to face whatever came their way.
——— ˗ˋ ୨ 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ୧ ˊ˗ ———
❥ “ there's no pleasure quite like reading, is there? sometimes it's the only thing that eases my mind. ”
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