He wasn’t born a monster. They made him one.Angelo Vitali keeps his enemies close, and his lovers captive.Unless you’ve been taken by Angelo, it’s impossible to understand the depths of the depravity he will inflict on you in the name of his desire. Those who belong to him suffer greatly, hating him as much as they love him.If you are captured by Angelo, you’ll learn what those in the House of … learn what those in the House of Vitali have always known.
You can run. You can resist.
But there is no escaping the monster.
This is how the monster was made…
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I’m sitting here in a daze. What I thought I knew, what I thought I expected, what I thought I felt are definitely NOT what I ended with. Loki Renard has painted a virtual picture of the Vitali world and family that I certainly wasn’t expecting but one that played out within my mind like a movie. ‘Angelo’ has pulled emotions from me that I truly did not expect to feel for this “monster” or their “family”. This is an outstanding book.
4 STARS
“Other men would cling to life, back down from danger because they needed to live. But not Angelo. To him life was the same as death. The only thing he craved was power. The power to be free of the shackles of the world, to laugh at the law, to make a mockery of those who devoted themselves to so called organized crime. To Angelo, they were no different than the men who called themselves makers of law, they were merely small scale tyrants. Angelo owed no allegiances, followed no laws, cared not for the consequences of his actions. In this manner, he not only survived, but thrived, building a personal empire of influence, money, and favors which stretched around the globe.” Loki,63.
Hello Dears! After having finished Pure Evil (and of course loving it!), I could not wait to see what Angelo: Making a Monster would entail! It is a shorter read than the others, but did have an interesting, yet short story as to why Angelo is the way he is. I was hoping it would delve a bit more into his experiences longer, and to really have this “evolution” into his dark genesis that he has mastery of in present day. Still the same, twisted, cruel, yet caring Angelo though here with Bobby() and Mark!
“Angelo was legend, and he looked every inch of it. Salt and pepper hair gave him the gravitas of a silverback, or a Roman senator. That animal power was mixed with intellect and grace which made him all the more dangerous a creature. Laying utterly spent in post-coital bliss, his elegance was evident even in the way his arm was draped possessively over the younger man’s shoulders. The rest of his tall, muscular frame was draped against the bed, sprawled in post coital satisfaction. The sheets were rumpled around both their legs as they lay in the comfortable intimacy of the very freshly well fucked.” Loki,3-4.
“They would hate him. They would think him cruel. They might even think him crazy. But they would obey him. They would bow to him. Because it was necessary. Because control, at all costs, was the only way to keep anyone safe. The only way to survive. Crouched next to his brave, unconscious lover, Angelo’s mind slid back through the years to when he had first learned that brutal lesson for himself.” Loki,18.
After the events of books 1,2, and 3, we have the three men who are still living in their twisted relationship that brings harmony for each of them. Just from one simple yet curious question from Bobby less Angleo back into a time in his life that he will never forget. Does he truly love Bobby and Mark despite what occurred 25 years ago in his youth? Is it all a sick game of power and servitude with a dash of love as well?
“Mark found himself lying on the floor of Angelo’s study. Angelo was crouched over him, dark eyes focused on him with a calm gaze which never failed to make the hair on the back of Mark’s neck stand erect. There was something about Angelo which was almost unholy and out of this world. Most men would have gloated over choking him out, or taken the chance to further reinforce their domination with comments of one kind or another. Angelo just offered him a hand and helped him up.” Loki,41.
I did enjoy getting to see how Angelo became who he was from a horrible incident within the past. He is not this purely dark man as you would think he is. from tragedy, he got vengeance, and rose with his power, wealth, charisma, and darkness that set him apart from many other mobsters and mafia men. I also enjoyed how Renard switched between the past and to present day which linked up with the actions going on at said time. And of course, there is the dark passion as well that cannot be forgotten!
“Don’t care for me, Bobby. Don’t start to make that mistake. I swear, it will only hurt you in the end – worse than I intend for you to be hurt. I took you against your will. I brought as a prisoner and I have made sure at every turn that you burn with hatred for me. None of that is an accident. Don’t fall in love with me.. It won’t end well.” Bobby’s gaze started to well. “You’re fucked up, Angelo.” “Beyond your wildest dreams, boy,” Angelo purred, brushing his lips across Bobby’s mouth.” Loki,7.
“Angelo landed atop Bobby in the end, pinning the boy beneath him. They were both bruised. Both hurt. They were both bleeding from grazes and cuts. Both breathing hard. A rough kiss bloomed between them, Angelo’s lips capturing Bobby’s in a lip lock of pure passion. In the kiss, Bobby relaxed. The tension flowed out of his body and into his cock. Angelo felt Bobby’s erection pressed against his inner thigh. There it was. The heat between them, the love that existed even though it perhaps shouldn’t. The bond that was tested in fire every time they came together. Cut from the same cloth. Made from the same mold. Perhaps it was narcissistic, but it was more than that. It was the understanding that could only take place between two sides of the same coin.” Loki,46.
As I mentioned earlier within the introduction, I wished that Angelo’s past was delved into more so we can understand him (as best as anyone could ) a bit better. I mean it did help to know why he shut his heart off and became such a dark man, but I also felt it left me still questioning does he TRULY care for Bobby and Mark. I would say yes, but only because the 3 prior books help to establish that belief better. He does mention internally within his mind that he loves them both, but I just felt something was a bit off. Not completely sure what exactly, but it was there. With the page length I believe that made it harder to grasp fully I would say. Overall still a good addition to the series!
“He had loved once, and would never love again. Love had been weakness, brutally exploited at the very first opportunity. He would never love again. But he would conquer. He would fuck. He would destroy. He would claim. He would do it all, but his heart would forever be locked away.” Loki,62.
“Boy,” Angelo growled. “I will take my belt to your ass if you keep it up.” “Yeah? So? That would be the least painful thing that happened to me today.” The corners of Angelo’s lips turned up into a smile. He was being baited by the boy, who could not get enough pleasure, or enough pain. Bobby may never know it, but he was the bright light at the end of a very long tunnel, and in claiming him, Angelo had found something he never expected to find twice in the same lifetime: love.” Loki,67.
So overall not a bad read! Just would have been nice to have written more about younger Angelo and to further explain his inner feelings for both Bobby and Mark truly. Just as with the preceding books, this on is available with KU through Amazon! I hope your reads are amazing so far!
On the surface this may seem like just a dark twisted tale – well it is, but it’s also a story about love. Ok, love which has been forged in the fires of a sick brutal past but love all the same!
Awesome compelling writing!
A novella in the House of the Vitali series. In this story we get to more background of Angelo and how he became the man he is now.
It was interesting to see the change in Angelo and also why he was so interested in Bobby. I went for hating to liking him again all in one short story.
I want more books in this series.
This is an in-depth look at Angelo -what drives the monster within the man? It also answers the question of how a lowly street urchin was able to amass the power and presence that Angelo has.
If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers then I definitely recommend this series
Wow this explains so much about why Angelo is the way he is and why he treats those around him the way he does. This story contains violence, intolerance, bigotry, vengance, heartbreak, lust and possibly love and some hints on how this story arc will all play out.
Another must read!
This is a dark romance. It was interesting to learn how Angelo became a monster. I like how it shows how his past makes him what he is , and his it affects his actions in the present. He is merciless to his enemies and cold towards his lovers.
This was breathtaking getting to look into Angelos past and why he is the way he is making a lot of sense, the horrifying things that turned his love to hate and making him into what he is today, a very powerful cruel twisted man who will always win in every single situation with a very twisted love and hate that belongs to him that he very much shows Bobby and Mark. I enjoyed the banter and teasing also the powerplay between the three but we all knows who comes out on top.
Oh my, Angelo. Angelo, Angelo, Angelo, what are we going to do with you? Or more likely, what are you going to do to us?
In this story, we get more of Angelo’s background and what made him what he is. After reading this, I am closer to understanding Angelo. Not that it will ever be possible to understand a man who is this twisted, tricksy, devious, and deviant. He thinks ahead to every possibility and has plans A-Z in place for every eventuality. He knows what Bobby and Mark are going to do before they even think of doing it. I always wonder if he’s making them do it because it works to their personality or if it’s their personality and he is adjusting what he does to them. We’ll never know because Angelo will never tell us.
I can’t wait for another House of Vitali story. I love Angelo. I just hope he doesn’t do to me what he did to Bobby if he hears that.
Loki Renard has been one of the few authors who are able to capture my soul with her words. This book is no exception. OMG!!! It is so good.
When you are describing how a monster was made, there must be horrific occurrences. Loki skillfully coerced and lured me to the very edge of that horrifying precipice, where she coerced my own imagination to experience the plummet.
When I read Loki’s stories, I am entirely transported to a different time and place, where I feel things I never thought I would or could. Thank you, Loki!
I have loved the entire House of Vitali series, but this one really shines. It had the darkness, depravity and yet the heart Loki Renard so magically intertwines in her words.
The character development blew me anyway with this. It is the missing piece of the puzzle, the perfect final touch. To finally know more about Angelo was phenomenal. The world building was solid and consistent with the rest of the series.
Most of all the storyline was flawless. It is everything I could have wanted delivered. I don’t want to let go of these characters even more now because the author brought them to life so completely. Being able to show heart in darkness takes a special skill and Loki Renard masters it.
5 stars for a deliciously dark delight.