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beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition
5.0
Here we discover what happened to Talia, Mack's missing bestie from book one and buckle up as It is far from a pretty story. So Mack initially asked Alexei Nikolaev for assistance to attempt to locate and discover her friend's fate something he's now set in motion. Alexei is a Russian Vor and councillor to Viktor Sokolov so pretty high up in his organisation. He's also something of a recluse living a quiet existence he does his required job but keeps to himself mainly due to an affliction he believes makes him defective.
Wanting Talia not only to free her from her own chains but because he also needs a wife. A wife he hasn't an emotional attachment to but will also fulfil the purpose he requires her for. He believes Talia fits the required bill. Alexei knows she will have trauma from the nightmare existence he rescued her from but believes it to be manageable. Nothing could have prepared him for the reality as Talia at least initially is a broken woman one that comes complete with a death wish something that then also managed to resurface his own past trauma.
These two are very similar with traumas that reflect each other's pain. Both are not inclined to trust easily so it's very much baby steps. Alexei fights his emotions till the bitter end and it's only when he reaches rock bottom that he realises the magnitude of his potential loss.
I adored Talia her strength of spirit was inspiring and her thirst for vengeance was incredibly satisfying she wants her pound of flesh and is not squeamish about it. Her life hasn't been pretty and she nearly gave up but she's still able to open up her heart to another.
This was a great read it was horrific and tragic but also passionate and inspiring. We had danger and some angst and also enemies within. This is such an amazing series and each book feels distinct and not regurgitated. Highly recommend it if you're partial to some mafia romance. Be aware though this has dark themes and some graphic content relating to human trafficking in regards to Talia.
Wanting Talia not only to free her from her own chains but because he also needs a wife. A wife he hasn't an emotional attachment to but will also fulfil the purpose he requires her for. He believes Talia fits the required bill. Alexei knows she will have trauma from the nightmare existence he rescued her from but believes it to be manageable. Nothing could have prepared him for the reality as Talia at least initially is a broken woman one that comes complete with a death wish something that then also managed to resurface his own past trauma.
These two are very similar with traumas that reflect each other's pain. Both are not inclined to trust easily so it's very much baby steps. Alexei fights his emotions till the bitter end and it's only when he reaches rock bottom that he realises the magnitude of his potential loss.
I adored Talia her strength of spirit was inspiring and her thirst for vengeance was incredibly satisfying she wants her pound of flesh and is not squeamish about it. Her life hasn't been pretty and she nearly gave up but she's still able to open up her heart to another.
This was a great read it was horrific and tragic but also passionate and inspiring. We had danger and some angst and also enemies within. This is such an amazing series and each book feels distinct and not regurgitated. Highly recommend it if you're partial to some mafia romance. Be aware though this has dark themes and some graphic content relating to human trafficking in regards to Talia.
lefthandedbibliophile's review against another edition
Dnf-ing at 25%
Couldn't care less for Alexie's motives nor do I feel anything for the traumatised Talia... :-/
Couldn't care less for Alexie's motives nor do I feel anything for the traumatised Talia... :-/
hrenta0's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
navyblues0227's review against another edition
4.0
Holy moley, what happened to Talia! I'll never understand men who have no compassion for women. I can't even imagine how Talia survived everything. And Alexei. What a life he's lived. Believing he's not worth anything because the two people who should have protected him both rejected him in very different ways. But Alexei persevered and even rose farther than anyone could have expected. When Lachlan asks Alexei to find Talia, Alexei sort of fell for her right then. And once he found her, he manipulated what he needed to in order to get her away from the asshole who had her. It took a lot of patience to allow Talia's psyche to heal to the point they might have a relationship. But even then, Alexei held back from her, certain she'd eventually leave him. A lot of stuff went down in this one, and it all kept the story moving quite nicely. I was very happy with where it ended up. Such an interesting series!
mrslupher's review against another edition
5.0
Stars:
4.5
All the feels. Wow I'm blown away by how much emotion that this book pulled from me. Here are these two broken souled people that fate has brought together and they start to heal, just to be cracked a little.
It's a true story of someone mentally ill healing. I feel for both Talia and Alexei, and I want to swoop them both into my arms and take their past away, but knowing that past is what made them who they are. In Strength there is weakness, and in chess, one should always remember to never sacrifice the queen.
I HIGHLY recommend this book, and if you haven't read Crow and Reaper, I suggest starting there. Even though they read like standalone novels, they are just that good, and it makes each story that much better.
4.5
All the feels. Wow I'm blown away by how much emotion that this book pulled from me. Here are these two broken souled people that fate has brought together and they start to heal, just to be cracked a little.
It's a true story of someone mentally ill healing. I feel for both Talia and Alexei, and I want to swoop them both into my arms and take their past away, but knowing that past is what made them who they are. In Strength there is weakness, and in chess, one should always remember to never sacrifice the queen.
I HIGHLY recommend this book, and if you haven't read Crow and Reaper, I suggest starting there. Even though they read like standalone novels, they are just that good, and it makes each story that much better.
tiffany_bibliophage's review against another edition
4.0
Our questions about Talia have been answered but the answer was a dark one.
Talia is Mack’s best friend from Crow, book one. Turns out Dmitri, Talia’s boyfriend, took her on a trip to Mexico where he kidnapped her and sold her into sex slavery. This was a dark one, her being drugged as she is used over and over again. I felt Talia’s emptiness, her need to be numb. Losing all hope, Talia saves the little pills they’re drugging her with so she can commit suicide and finally be free to fly. Then, one day, a Russian mafia man named Alexei ruins her plans and takes her away.
Alexei is friends with Lachlan, and an ally to the Irish mafia. As such, he’s been asked to help find Talia and bring her home. Two problems with that; Talia’s owner is a major supplier to the Russians and refused to give Talia up permanently, and Alexei intends to keep Talia- against what Lachlan has asked of him. Alexei has been abandoned by his father because he lost his hearing as a child and therefore is seen as defective, as far as his father is concerned. Alexei’s mom committed suicide after his father abandoned them, Alexei tried so hard to get her to stay. So Talia’s need to commit suicide to escape is something that Alexei will not allow.
Both Alexei and Talia have parents that committed suicide (Talia’s mom drowned her siblings as well). Both of these characters need love and trust in a relationship so bad, but both were too afraid, too wary to love or allow themselves to trust. Miles from society in their own little world we watch these two characters learn how to let themselves love, to trust, without realizing it themselves. Alexei was right in knowing that him and Talia are a lot alike due to their traumatic pasts. They really were the perfect pair to understand each other’s issues and boundaries.
But there’s gotta be danger, right? Alexei’s decision to keep and marry Talia angers the woman who thought she’d have him, and becomes the (one of the) weak spot(s) that someone can use to bring him down.
I was a little worried going into this book because I wanted to read more about the Irish side of things. But this was a beautiful story that I turned out to be really interested in. Now I want more of this Russian world. I guess it’s a good thing we’ll be returning to that side of things in a book or two.
Talia is Mack’s best friend from Crow, book one. Turns out Dmitri, Talia’s boyfriend, took her on a trip to Mexico where he kidnapped her and sold her into sex slavery. This was a dark one, her being drugged as she is used over and over again. I felt Talia’s emptiness, her need to be numb. Losing all hope, Talia saves the little pills they’re drugging her with so she can commit suicide and finally be free to fly. Then, one day, a Russian mafia man named Alexei ruins her plans and takes her away.
Alexei is friends with Lachlan, and an ally to the Irish mafia. As such, he’s been asked to help find Talia and bring her home. Two problems with that; Talia’s owner is a major supplier to the Russians and refused to give Talia up permanently, and Alexei intends to keep Talia- against what Lachlan has asked of him. Alexei has been abandoned by his father because he lost his hearing as a child and therefore is seen as defective, as far as his father is concerned. Alexei’s mom committed suicide after his father abandoned them, Alexei tried so hard to get her to stay. So Talia’s need to commit suicide to escape is something that Alexei will not allow.
Both Alexei and Talia have parents that committed suicide (Talia’s mom drowned her siblings as well). Both of these characters need love and trust in a relationship so bad, but both were too afraid, too wary to love or allow themselves to trust. Miles from society in their own little world we watch these two characters learn how to let themselves love, to trust, without realizing it themselves. Alexei was right in knowing that him and Talia are a lot alike due to their traumatic pasts. They really were the perfect pair to understand each other’s issues and boundaries.
But there’s gotta be danger, right? Alexei’s decision to keep and marry Talia angers the woman who thought she’d have him, and becomes the (one of the) weak spot(s) that someone can use to bring him down.
I was a little worried going into this book because I wanted to read more about the Irish side of things. But this was a beautiful story that I turned out to be really interested in. Now I want more of this Russian world. I guess it’s a good thing we’ll be returning to that side of things in a book or two.
clark_taneisha's review against another edition
5.0
I could slap myself. I let this book sit on my shelf and collect virtual dust, and it is AMAZING. When I say a must read for dark romance, a MUST read. My heart broke for Talia from the very beginning, and Alexei was like a dark angel. I already know I will be rereading multiple times. The ending did feel rushed to me, but I really just wanted it to be longer.
romaroth's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 -Oscuro romance -estrellas
*SPOILER ALERT*
Antes de comenzar a leer Ghost, me puse a ver diferentes reviews, y uno de ellos me llamó mucho la atención pues decía: 'Es el libro más oscuro de la serie'.
Al principio no tomé demasiado enserio estas palabras, pero conforme más leía, más me di cuenta de que era verdad. Las primeras páginas narraron un mundo completamente oscuro, un mundo en el que sin duda no es fácil vivir.
La descripción que la autora hace acerca de la situación de Talia, me dejó la piel de gallina y asqueada por ese mundo que aunque sea ficticio, puede que exista en algún lugar.
Al leer los reviews también noté que decían que Talia necesitaba tener un poco más de pasión por vivir, de luchar más, pero ¿en serio? Bajo las circunstancias en las que se encontraba lo más normal y humano era buscar una salida, aunque esa salida fuera la muerte.
Por otra parte, tal y como ya estoy acostumbrada con la autora, Alexei fue increíblemente apasionado y un macho alfa en toda la expresión. A pesar de que no se menciona en ningún momento, yo creo que se enamoró de Talia desde la primera vez que Mack le muestra una foto de ella.
Amé la química entre ambos y el hecho de que él siempre tratara de acercarla. Sí, es verdad, al principio le dice que va a poseer cada parte de ella, pero que jamás podrá amarla, sin embargo, nunca la trató de una forma que no demostrara preocupación. Las veces que su carácter se sale de control es porque Talia es el catalizador.
Por mucho que haya amado a Talia y Alexei, para mí, el mejor libro de esta serie sigue siendo el de Ronan. Peeeeeero, sin duda lo que le dio muchos untos a Ghost fue la escena de Talia encontrándose con Mack, prácticamente grité. Amé verlas reunidas.
Lo único que no me pareció lógico, fue la reacción de Alexei al saber que Crow ayudó a Talia a mantenerse oculta. La verdad es que como mínimo esperaba una pele entre ellos.
Estoy ansiosa por leer más de la autora y me muero por saber qué pasará con Rory y Scarlett.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Antes de comenzar a leer Ghost, me puse a ver diferentes reviews, y uno de ellos me llamó mucho la atención pues decía: 'Es el libro más oscuro de la serie'.
Al principio no tomé demasiado enserio estas palabras, pero conforme más leía, más me di cuenta de que era verdad. Las primeras páginas narraron un mundo completamente oscuro, un mundo en el que sin duda no es fácil vivir.
La descripción que la autora hace acerca de la situación de Talia, me dejó la piel de gallina y asqueada por ese mundo que aunque sea ficticio, puede que exista en algún lugar.
Al leer los reviews también noté que decían que Talia necesitaba tener un poco más de pasión por vivir, de luchar más, pero ¿en serio? Bajo las circunstancias en las que se encontraba lo más normal y humano era buscar una salida, aunque esa salida fuera la muerte.
Por otra parte, tal y como ya estoy acostumbrada con la autora, Alexei fue increíblemente apasionado y un macho alfa en toda la expresión. A pesar de que no se menciona en ningún momento, yo creo que se enamoró de Talia desde la primera vez que Mack le muestra una foto de ella.
Amé la química entre ambos y el hecho de que él siempre tratara de acercarla. Sí, es verdad, al principio le dice que va a poseer cada parte de ella, pero que jamás podrá amarla, sin embargo, nunca la trató de una forma que no demostrara preocupación. Las veces que su carácter se sale de control es porque Talia es el catalizador.
Por mucho que haya amado a Talia y Alexei, para mí, el mejor libro de esta serie sigue siendo el de Ronan. Peeeeeero, sin duda lo que le dio muchos untos a Ghost fue la escena de Talia encontrándose con Mack, prácticamente grité. Amé verlas reunidas.
Lo único que no me pareció lógico, fue la reacción de Alexei al saber que Crow ayudó a Talia a mantenerse oculta. La verdad es que como mínimo esperaba una pele entre ellos.
Estoy ansiosa por leer más de la autora y me muero por saber qué pasará con Rory y Scarlett.
kaymillz's review against another edition
4.0
good
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Dark yet bright in a satisfying contrasting way. I enjoy when the characters are broken and find wholeness together- no matter the trigger warnings lll
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Dark yet bright in a satisfying contrasting way. I enjoy when the characters are broken and find wholeness together- no matter the trigger warnings lll
mysoz's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite
This is my favorite of the series! I couldn't stop reading. I knew this was going to be good but instead I got greatness. Alexis....sigh! Enough said lol.
This is my favorite of the series! I couldn't stop reading. I knew this was going to be good but instead I got greatness. Alexis....sigh! Enough said lol.