From USA Today Bestselling Author Dani René comes a new adult romance filled with lies, secrets, and steam!I hate her. I want Dahlia to pay. Tynewood is my town, and she doesn’t belong here. While rage fuels me, my blood burns with desire. I want vengeance, and I’ll get it. No. Matter. What. We’re on opposite sides of the battlefield — a poised flower, a raging warrior, and a mountain of secrets … a poised flower, a raging warrior, and a mountain of secrets between us.
I knew he was bad news the moment I laid eyes on him. Anger and lust swirl together when he looks at me, but I don’t know why. War has commenced, and as secrets unfold, it looks like the battle has only just begun. He wants to hurt me. He loves to see me cry.
What Ares Lancaster doesn’t realize is, I’m not afraid of the darkness inside him.
Lies. Revenge. Bloodshed.
When war comes to a head, nobody is safe from the destruction it leaves in its wake.
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I didn’t like this book….I loved it.
Preface, intrigued
Prologue, hooked
Chapters 1 – 34, couldn’t put it down
Epilogue, perfect
Bonus scene, open mouthed and wanting more
Dani hooked me from the very beginning, see above. I had so many questions and I needed answers; and she didn’t disappoint. For every answer, there was another question. She kept me guessing all the way till the end.
Cruel War has it all; intrigue, angst, slow burn sizzle, sexiness, a misguided hero and a sassy strong heroine.
I cannot wait for more in this series.
This was one hell of a ride!!! Ares and Dahlia will keep you glued to the pages. Dani Rene never seize to amaze me, her dark writing style just keeps me wanting more.
The twists of this book are gonna have you guessing, your heart pounding, and you are gonna be sweating from the heat radiating from the pages!
I cannot wait for more!!
Truly a 5 Stars read that you don’t wanna miss.
Cruel War was a great 5+ star read.
Dani has once again pulled me into a dark and twisted world that I can’t get enough of and I couldn’t stop until I was done. Ares and Dahlia pulled me right in with their story.
Ares is part of an elite group what I would consider royalty in his town, the Gilded Sovereign. He has two best friends that are part of the Sovereign as well, Tarian and Etienne. Where one is, the others are close behind. They are dark and dangerous and love to play with women.
It’s all part of being royalty. I can do whatever I want. -Ares
Dahlia has moved to town to live with her grandmother after her father’s death, her best friend and father has also come to town with her. She catches Ares eye and he sets his sights on her, when he finds out who she is, she quickly becomes a pawn or should I say toy to play with and get his revenge on.
This is going to be a very long four years of my life – Dahlia
Dahlia was a very quick witted, smart and sassy woman. She stood up to Ares and gave it just as good as he gave, even though at times she was terrified inside. There was something about his darkness that turned her on as well.
As Ares plays his games with Dahlia, he starts to have some feelings for her. When there is an unexpected twist, Ares learns the truth about some things and everything changes. Will he get his revenge? Can he fight his feelings for Dahlia?
There are so many unexpected twists and turns. We get suspense, mystery, murder and so much more. When these two finally get together it was hot. All of the secondary characters added a great element to the story and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 1-click and get started today.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I was sucked into this story as on the first page. I just had to know what would happen with Ares and Dahlia. The way the author combined both fragility and strength to create Dahlia’s character drew me in and I love my alpha BBF’s so Ares was perfect but I also loved his vulnerability. This book has gotten me itching to read more of this series and if book 1 is just the start I know the rest will be brilliant.
Loving the start to this new series of books. THis book has absolutely everything I love in a book with the tension, twists, turns and the characters all were perfectly written which made me that much more attached to them. I adore the premise of the book and these styles of books and the power and corruption and redemption that come from them.
Truly a fantastic read
I really enjoyed Dahlia and Ares’s story! It was dark and delicious and I couldn’t put it down!
Cruel War was an epic read that I did not want to put down. This series is going to be awesome and I can’t wait to read more from it. Go grab this first installment today
Ohh when I first started reading this book,
I thought I was going to dislike Ares all the
way through the book, but he redeemed himself.
Both protagonist were a product of their parents
lies and secrets. Ares was misguided with whom he
thought Dahlia was. My favorite part of the book was
towards the last chapters. The secret society, the families,
the traditions all come to a standstill. Things definitely
come to light, people get hurt, kidnapped, but all that happens
is for the better. I totally loved the ending though. They way the
guys stood their ground when the new member was “crowned” .
Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
First, can we just talk about how awesome the name of the main male character and the title of the book? I just love that kind of wordplay.
Ares is a member of a secret society that pretty much rules the world. He has plans for Dahlia. He wants to get his revenge on her, and he has permission to do whatever he wants to her to destroy her. Meanwhile, all Dahlia wants is some answers and some peace so she can just get on with her life.
I really like both Dahlia and Ares. Dahlia is strong, capable, and fierce. I really wouldn’t want to get on her bad side, because I’m pretty sure that she will mow every person who stands in her way down. Then there is Ares. I like him, even when he’s stubborn as all get out, and thinks that he’s going to do things one way. His family keep telling him that he is very volatile, but the way that his father treats him, I don’t blame him for being volatile.
Ares and Dahlia do not seem like a couple that would ever be together but their chemistry says otherwise. Ares is head strong and can be a jerk, but Dahlia is no wilting flower. This plot will take you for a wild ride with the secrets, lies, and lust this book is everything ! Cannot wait for what is next !
Holy God this was one intense story completely captivating from the very first page and I couldn’t get enough I was on the edge of my seat then boom something else happens. So many twists and turns with secrets every where, these characters are extremely intense and fierce and show no mercy at all and I loved every single bit of it. Ares is to die for and Dahlia is one feisty woman who is a fighter and her character was outstanding along with all the boys in this secret group in the town to be afraid of Tynewood and I want to go there again.
Ares and Dahlia come from families that are enemies. Lies and betrayal lead Ares to want to make Dahlia pay for her family’s crimes. Dahlia is no shrinking flower, she can give as good as she gets back to Ares. The feelings between the two start to change into more than anger and revenge. Will the family history keeps these two apart? How will it all turn out? A read that I can recommend.
What a stunning start to a new series! I fell in love with Ares and Dahlia in this enemies-to-lovers romance. There are secrets everywhere in this book-a powerful, secret society and the secrets held by those members. There are twisty turns in this fast-moving, steamy story. Ares may behave like a bully, but he has pretty good reasons, and strong redeeming qualities. I liked Dahlia, who was both determined to uncover secrets she didn’t even know she had and crazily attracted to cruel Ares-you could feel her confusion in wanting him. The plot-wow! I loved learning about the Gilded Sovreign, and there were a couple things I was not expecting. Looking forward to Etienne’s story.
I received a copy of this book. My honest review is voluntarily provided.
One thing I love about Dani Rene’s writing is the complexity of everything. Her plots are deep and twisted, and keep me on the edge of my seat, her characters are well developed, and she knows how to get your blood pumping with her passionate sexy scenes. I love devouring her stories as fast as I can, and then I always suffer a book hangover when I finish. The good thing about this one is that it’s the first book in a new series, so there is going to be more of this wild ride.
This is an enemies to lover romance that is full of lies, secrets, obsession, and burning passion. You are thrust into the action on almost the first page and it doesn’t slow down until the end. It’s crazy intense! Ares is the ultimate bad boy who comes from a very powerful family with some serious secrets. His past has made him angry and he’s out for some serious revenge. Dahlia is the new girl in town who has suffered some tragedies but hasn’t let them break her. When they go up against each other sparks fly and their passion rages like an inferno, but the anger and hate burn just as hot. This story is a fast-paced, suspenseful read that shouldn’t be missed.
Dahlia and Ares are the perfect enemies to lovers couple. One strong Alpha who knows what he wants and a sassy girl finding her way. Dani has a way of pulling you into her world’s and making you see what she writes. These people and this place come alive with their heritage and mystery. I can not wait to see where this series goes and to hear the rest of their stories. Unexpected twists and sinfully dark turns give this new series the mystery factor of ‘what will happen next?’ And I can’t wait to continue the journey!
The death of her dad brought her to Tynewood, their playground.
He knows who she is, and hes determined to inflict some pain and punishment to her.
She wants a clean slate, no repercussions for anything her father did.
The gilded sovereign rule, their word is gospel. Will they be lenient upon her…
A read to render you speechless with all the twists and turns, unexpected events and moments of pure heat.
Oh I loved it all! The grit and secrecy, the dishonesty and cover ups I couldnt put this down!
His internal battle was magnificent to watch. The need and want versus right and wrong. Inner me was jumping for joy!
Her strength enough to bring any man to their knees. Shes got fire and a backbone to match. This is how all female characters should be!
Dani has outdone herself with the start of this series! I cant wait for the spotlight to move to the other boys.
Let the war begin!
Yay!! A new series to get my teeth into from this great author.
Hot Alpha Males are a big plus for me when it comes to what I read. Ares was just that and more. But what I really loved about this story was Dahlia. A young woman in a new town she knows nothing about, living with her gran who she has seen only a few times in her life. The only light in her life as she embarks on her first year at Tynewood University is her best friend who has moved to this tight knit little town with her.
Enter Ares Lancaster. The town troublemaker and bad boy all the girls fall over. After a rather intense first meeting Dahlia is as drawn to him as any other girl, but a warning from her gran sparks so many questions that she seeks him out because he is the only one who can give her the answers. As the story unravels she finds out much more than she bargained for, but she doesn’t back down or run and hide, she stands tall and gives it her all tackling what they throw at her head on. A true Alpha Female and a perfect match for Ares in more ways than one
This story has it all, ups, downs, slow burn romance and gripping suspense that you can’t help rushing to the end to see what happens. I can’t wait to see where this author will go next with this hot to trot new series
Omg awesome dark sexy and oh so yummy I have some to expect that for each of Dani Renés awesome books and this was no exception I dont know how she does it but they just keep getting better !
Cruel War was the first book in the Gilded Sovereign series. I can tell this series is going to be great! I look forward to reading more in this series. This book has great characters! Dahlia is such a strong character and I start to like Ares more throughout the story. This book is dark and will keep you guessing until the end.
The start of this series is something g else!! Emotion. Angst. Steaminess. It all combines together for one amazing, deliciously hot maphia romance you will fall in love with. You might feel like you have whiplash from all the twists and turns, but buckle up – you’ll love this ride so much!!
The author has such a way with words, characters, situations, and just creating an atmosphere you learn to love and crave. She is phenomenal at any writing, but this is my favorite type by her this year!
Ares and Delilah – no words. It gives you the background of the family first and then adds these words. The way this story weaves it all together was freakin magical!! A must read by this author.