Children of Vice #2 “Show me a strong woman and I’ll show you the scars on her soul that made her so.” Everything I’ve done, everything I will do…no remorse. The world is a vicious place for a woman. It’s even crueler to the daughter of the Ceann na Conairte–discarded, married off, left powerless… But I am no ordinary daughter of the mafia. Unlike every other mafia family, my mother was … every other mafia family, my mother was Melody Callahan, Bloody Mel, the Don of the Italian Mafia, and the Don didn’t raise some precious mafia princess.
Bone by bone she broke me first, so no one else could–and bone by bone, I pieced myself back together.
I am no longer just the daughter.
I am the Don.
I am Donatella Aviela Callahan, and there is only one way–my way.
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OMG! I don’t have words for this book. It didn’t go at all hove I expected and it’s a great thing. I like J.J. McAvoy’s books especially the Ruthless people series so I had a certain type of excitement when it came to the spin-off series the only wrench in the machine was that I really dislike Donatella character and her attitude in the first book didn’t help her case.
You can probably imagine the mix of excitement/trepidation I went into this book. Fortunately already in the first chapter I got relived because it took a great turn leading away from conflicts I was most of afraid. Still I practically had a love/ hate relationship with the first 50% of the book. Then it took a really awesome, surprising direction, one that changed my whole outlook at the events and from that point I loved every minute of it. I think the author took a freaking amazing twist to the plot that also solved a lot of problematic point in the relationship with the siblings. This book has a bloody great, action packed, tense and sexy atmosphere and that ending just killed me. Please, please I need a surprise on the beginning of the next book to similar to the one we got here because it will kill me if the cliffhanger progresses in the direction it looks to going right now.
So I really disliked Donatella in this story as well. However objectively she is a phenomenal, incredibly complex character and her personality just compels you to continue the story to find out which way the scale I going to tip. She is spoiled, bloodthirsty, high strung, hyper-focused and power-hungry and you could say that her mother had the same characteristics and I still loved her. The difference is that her mother demonstrated her power and we also got glimpse into the life where shy earned that power and respect, Donatella on the other hand kind of riding on others wave and throwing around names but we don’t really see her earning it. And that’s why her attitude kinda irritated me.
Gabriel’s crazy, laid back, no care in the world attitude balanced her out and also thrown her off. He was the first male who was her equal without trying to hard. I loved him and I also liked how his mere presence wreck havoc in the Callahan household. They were really great together but sometimes I felt like in Gabriel place I would have leaved Donatella high and dry after her behavior. Still I’m intrigued and really excited for their spin-off series. It has a lot of promise.
My favorite sibling is still Wyatt and maybe you would think he the kindest of them all but I feel he is the most psychotic and crazy one among them. I can’t wait for his story but I have a feeling I know who is going to be his partner and I’m not sure I like it.
Narration wise this one is more similar to the A bloody kingdom, where there were several different point of views. Just like that we see the events form at least 6 different POV and I can’t say this is a favorite thing for me. In my opinion it pulls the story a bit apart when it should be more focused but I can overlook it. Especially since it was great to see a bit more of Ethan and Ivy and also a surprise couple whom reappearance I was waiting for since the first book.
I can’t wait for Children of redemption but at the same time I’m afraid of it thanks to the shocking and heartbreaking cliffhanger.
Great story and a great series! Well done!