Candy M.’s Reviews > Special Forces: Soldiers Part II -Director's Cut > Status Update

Ugh, I've wanted to read this forever. Heard such great/saddening things about it! The length has just gotten to me. So hard to convince myself to start anything over 250 pages. D:

Sweat? Uh huh...

Kaylee wrote: "Ugh, I've wanted to read this forever. Heard such great/saddening things about it! The length has just gotten to me. So hard to convince myself to start anything over 250 pages. D:"

I hear you! That's part of why I decided to pick the Director's Cut (since there's a volume one and two). It made it easier to digest, plus I prefer pacing myself. Now, however, I wish it wouldn't end! I have a few pages left before I finish it, but when it comes to the story (this first installment at least), I'd say the lenght is ultimately worth it 🖤

Cassandra wrote: "Sweat? Uh huh..."

Well, I am definitely not weeping 🤬

Yeah, my eyes "sweated" a lot too. I guess you could stop reading, but can you stop thinking about them? 🥺

Lisazj1 wrote: "Yeah, my eyes "sweated" a lot too. I guess you could stop reading, but can you stop thinking about them? 🥺"

You're SO RIGHT. I'm shocked at the relationship development. I have to say I didn't expect the love to shine through so explicitly 😭 it's done so well. How are the rest of my future books supposed to top this?!

Candy wrote: "You're SO RIGHT. I'm shocked at the relationship development. I have to say I didn't expect the love to shine through so explicitly 😭 it's done so well. How are the rest of my future books supposed to top this?! ..."

I feel you there. This was responsible for a massive book hangover for me. I recommend smut, LOL. If you don't go straight to Mercenaries.

@Lisazj, I really don't know what to do with the series after the spoilers I read... since I'm not a fan of the whole, let's say Jean situation (trying not to drop spoilers and the app won't let me use spoilers tags lol). I've seen a lot of people saying mercenary was good until chapter 30 though and that it served as a pretty strong HEA. Would you agree? 'Cause I'm willing to put up with Jean a little but don't want him taking up too much page time. I'm only here for Dan/Vadim 🤕

Candy wrote: "@Lisazj, I really don't know what to do with the series after the spoilers I read... since I'm not a fan of the whole, let's say Jean situation (trying not to drop spoilers and the app won't let me..."

OOMMGGGGG. Boy, this is a tough one. Both parts of Mercenaries was haaaaard for me. Listen, I don't even like menages in my books, because I personally do not share, LOL. And the Mercenaries part is painful in a whole different way from the Soldiers part. *trying not to spoil you here* But there's good things between the two of them too. Not gonna lie though, Jean is not going away, and I say this with gritted teeth, even after all these years. I hated that bastard. And there's....omg, so many other things. Part 2 of the story made me want to cut somebody, just sayin'. I never read on to Veterans, I couldn't do it.

All that said, it's a story I'll never, ever forget.

Lisazj1 wrote: "Candy wrote: "@Lisazj, I really don't know what to do with the series after the spoilers I read... since I'm not a fan of the whole, let's say Jean situation (trying not to drop spoilers and the ap..."

I'm now on the site so I can finally use spoiler tags, allow me to elaborate (by the way, I don't mind any spoilers when it comes to Mercenaries, I actually welcome them): (view spoiler)[The only one I'm even considering reading is the Director's Cut of Mercenaries Part I that Aleksandr Voinov edited and re-structured. That one ends right with the trip to Thailand on chapter 30, and I checked the ending and seems like a pretty high note to wrap up the story. But what I truly want to know, if you don't mind elaborating, is whether Dan continues to be super in love with Vadim and is *only* in love with him. I can take reading a few sex scenes with other people, even though I will skim them and would hate if those are more numerous than the ones between the MCs , but what I can't deal with is the emotional cheating aspect 😅 so if that happens in part I and doesn't get solved or addressed, then I will just leave it with soldiers. The director's cut of that one removes the cliffhanger at the end (where Vadim gets taken), so it already serves as a HFN. (hide spoiler)]

And I did just type a whole bible. But I do need some help and you seem to have super similar pet peeves to mine! Thank you for all the help, by the way 🖤

Candy wrote: "I'm now on the site so I can finally use spoiler tags, allow me to elaborate (by the way, I don't mind any spoilers when it comes to Mercenaries, I actually welcome them): (view spoiler)

And I did just type a whole bible. But I do need some help and you seem to have super similar pet peeves to mine! Thank you for all the help, by the way 🖤..."

Uuum, that's a little confusing, because I think I read a different version *there were so many* because I'm pretty sure though to be fair, it has been years, that in Mercenaries 1 (view spoiler)[Vadim gets taken near the beginning. You mean when he's kidnapped by the KGB and imprisoned in the Lubyanka? And if not, there's a spoiler for you, sorry. Though one thing I can tell you, to address your main issue, is that it was only ever Vadim that Dan loved, even when he hated him. There were many other partners *which made me grind my teeth* but with them it literally was just sex. Dan never loved Jean but he wanted him, in part I think because Jean was such a manipulative motherfucker that he enjoyed luring Dan in. *grinds teeth, ugh* It really might be a good idea to stop with part 1, because seriously, part 2 made me want to throw shit at people. You can read my reviews if you want to know how I felt at the time, LOL. I was BIG mad! (hide spoiler)] All the other stuff aside, the story is stunningly well plotted and incredibly written. I'll be interested to see what you think when you get to your stopping point. Good luck. 😉 *hugs*

Lisazj1 wrote: "Candy wrote: "I'm now on the site so I can finally use spoiler tags, allow me to elaborate (by the way, I don't mind any spoilers when it comes to Mercenaries, I actually welcome them): (view spoil..."

I think I explained myself poorly, so I'll try to do so again 🙈 (view spoiler)[In the original version of the story, Soldiers ends with Vadim being taken by the KGB as a cliffhanger. In the Director's Cut that was released later, the book ends with Dan and Vadim laying in bed and pretty much serving as a HFN. Then a good way to know if you read the Director's Cut for Mercenaries is whether you read it as a PDF, since the author only linked the Director's Cut as a PDF on his official site. I had to convert it using a free website so I could read it more comfortably (and because if I do read it, I usually write a LOT of notes which is easier with an epub or mobi file. Another way to know which version you are reading is the page count. Director's Cut is 637 pages give or take, and the original version is almost or over 1000. So that should help to distinguish them! I'm a 100000% convinced I'll hate Jean's gut, but as long as Dan stays romantically devoted to Vadim I guess... I can... try to cope? 😭😭 not sure. Would you also say his and Dan's scenes overshadowed the main couple's? Because people really make it sound as if Jean and Dan were going at it all the time 💀💀 (hide spoiler)]

Sorry for the long messages! I'm truly just scared 😅 And I'm loving this book SO MUCH so it's bizarre to think I could loathe the sequel just as much.

Vadim 💜

Ayanna wrote: "Damn sweaty eyes. Such a nuisance I tell you 🤧. The strikethrough about myself when you said friend? Had me 😂😂😂😂😂😂! I am glad this one is really doing it for you Candy! Definitely needed it after t..."

Thank you, Ayanna 😚 And the tears tear duct sweating is real. I'm genuinely enjoying this one so much though, I just don't want it to end 🙈 Fingers crossed you get a hit like this soon!! Will be manifesting a good streak your way 💆‍♀️

Fearne wrote: "Vadim 💜"

My favorite too 🥺

Yes, all manner of breaks, short, long, mildly insane or desperately demonic are all welcome, Candy. I've just finished up reading a five part series and this feeling is all too familiar. You stretch it out for all its worth. Works like a temporary charm! 😁❤

Ayanna wrote: "Candy wrote: "Ayanna wrote: "Damn sweaty eyes. Such a nuisance I tell you 🤧. The strikethrough about myself when you said friend? Had me 😂😂😂😂😂😂! I am glad this one is really doing it for you Candy!..."

Replying late, but you already know my thoughts on the review... as extensive as they ended up being. Again, no filter! 😌 And yes, there are actually sequels, but I didn't like the spoilers and this works as a standalone with a HFN ending, so I'll take it!

Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Yes, all manner of breaks, short, long, mildly insane or desperately demonic are all welcome, Candy. I've just finished up reading a five part series and this feeling is all too familiar. You stret..."

I see we share the same philosophy. I ended up reading a few more pages, but I'm currently unable to keep going. As you said, I need to stretch it for all its worth! Hell, I might even pick up another book just to delay the inevitable... sounds like a solid method, right? 😭😭

Well... This definitely sounds like one heck of a read

Candy wrote: "Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Yes, all manner of breaks, short, long, mildly insane or desperately demonic are all welcome, Candy. I've just finished up reading a five part series and this..."

😂😭 Do it! I back you fully and completely, my friend.

Candy wrote: "I think I explained myself poorly, so I'll try to do so again 🙈 (view spoiler)

Sorry for the long messages! I'm truly just scared 😅 And I'm loving this book SO MUCH so it's bizarre to think I could loathe the sequel just as much…."

No, you explained just fine, I know I didn’t read the Directors Cut. I think the one I read had like, 800+ pages? I’m just not sure which version specifically I did read. Anyway, for me, *especially by part 2* it wasn’t that I hated it *much* just that I was so so SO angry and frustrated with both of them and hurt with them. You know how invested you are now, right? So yeah, you feel all that. And as to your other question, no. Dan and Vadim are together a lot but they’re apart as well and there are always others, in whatever context. At least that’s as I remember it, it has been a long time.

But this is just me. Still needing to vent about it years later, lmao! 😂 So many people loved it, right to the end. 🤷🏼‍♀️ However much you decide to read, I hope you enjoy it. 😘

Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Candy wrote: "Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Yes, all manner of breaks, short, long, mildly insane or desperately demonic are all welcome, Candy. I've just finished up reading a five part s..."

I will take all of the enabling 🤣 if anyone questions me, I'll just blame you give you all of the credit, of course!

that's me… *i'm not crying, it's just tear duct sweat*

Lisazj1 wrote: "Candy wrote: "I think I explained myself poorly, so I'll try to do so again 🙈 (view spoiler)

Sorry for the long messages! I'm truly just scared 😅 And I'm loving this book SO MUCH so it's bizarre t..."

Love the passion. Plus it sounds like you still don't regret it, even if you never read Veterans 😅 which I'm still not sure is a good sign. But better to try and fail that to never try at all... or whatever the actual saying was. But I get it, I'm just the type of reader that gets veryyyy bitter once I dislike a character, and unless they redeem themselves pretty convincingly, then it's one star town 😒 with that being said, you convinced me to read the Director's Cut of Mercenaries part one! I think Aleksandr Voinov knew what he was doing by cutting it where he did... and I get the faint idea he wasn't happy where things ended up, since it serves as a convincing HEA and he never talked about or edited the rest 🤣

And thanks again for satiating all of my curiosity! Much love, Lisazj.

Demon wrote: "Well... This definitely sounds like one heck of a read"

Legit my number one book of the year so far. You can't get much more epic than this. But then again, I think you wouldn't like it since it's very... visceral in a problematic way 😅

Candy wrote: "Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Candy wrote: "Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] wrote: "Yes, all manner of breaks, short, long, mildly insane or desperately demonic are all welcome, Candy. I've..."

😂 If you're ever in need of an enabler, take note that I come fully prepped...😉