I was born a monster. Cruelty ran in my veins like poison. It ran in the veins of every Vitiello man, passed on from father to son, an endless spiral of monstrosity. A born monster shaped into an even worse monster by my father’s blade and fists and harsh words. I was raised to become Capo, to rule without mercy, to dish out brutality without a second thought.Raised to break others. When Aria was … was given to me in marriage, everyone waited with baited breath to see how fast I’d break her like my father broke his women. How I’d crush her innocence and kindness with the force of my cruelty.Breaking her would have taken little effort. It came naturally to me.I was gladly the monster everyone feared. Until her.Author’s note: Bound By Honor in Luca’s POV.
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“Born in Blood, Sworn in Blood. I enter alive and I leave dead,”
Hope on this thrilling, one way ride to the heart of Famiglia, Bound By Blood Oaths
Luca “The Vise” has my neck in a Choke old from chapter one and I’ve remained at his mercy till the end.
It’s a ruthless start to a promising Dark Mafia series and it has me thrilled to bits. This trope is my adrenaline rush and Cora does not disappoint in the least. I haven’t felt such a dreadful shiver up my spine since Joseph Fallen. Luca Vitiello is a Capo Protégè, next in line to the Mafia throne. Only his father, Salvatore Vitiello, the current Capo refuses to die. His satanic immortality is a gigantic thorn in Luca & Matteo’s side.
Luca is being readied, he’s a Made Man already
“Monsters are created, not born. Bullshit. I was born a monster. Cruelty ran in my veins like poison.
A man born a monster, raised to be a monster, bound to be a monster to become Capo.”
The entire story is bathed in blood, ferocious and swift retribution mar the landscape. It’s littered with dead bodies, chopped off limbs and appendages. Luca is the king of the dead and a hardened prince
“I was the boy who killed his first man at eleven. I was the teenager who crushed his cousin’s throat at seventeen. I was the man who bathed in his enemies’ blood without a flicker of remorse, who relished in their screams as if it was a fucking Mozart sonata”
Only one look at the beautiful, virginal Aria Scuderi, his intended bride has his heart sprouting a beat.
It’s nothing, just a business arrangement but this turns the story on its head.
She manages to scent his heart with….dare I say it…Love!!
If Salvatore cones to know of his sons weakness, he’d either rape or kill Aria himself
I so fell in love with Luca. He’s caught between two worlds. His destiny and his heart. His playground is in a fight with his sanctum sanctorum- his home. Aria is his queen and she rises slowly to take her place with Luca ultimately.
Of the characters, I LOVED Matteo, his undying, unquestionable loyalty to his kin.
I LOVED naive & innocent Angel- Aria
I admired and fell for Luca. His honesty, his strength was a major turn on.
Gianna really annoyed me and I’m guessing Matteo will take care of her somewhere down the series.
Cora writes with cold-blooded abandon, giving two hoots for boundaries and triggers. I LOVE that in an author. It sharply written, very detailed and gruesome. It’s a bloody trope so don’t expect to have a softer HEA, it’s sadistically unforgiving till the end.
I’m going to jump in the next book soonest.
4.5 stars for Gentle Monster
When Luca and Metro gree up they had a Capo for a dad he was cruel and hateful. He treated his wives bad and had his sons watch when their mother committed suicide. Luca had an arranged marriage to Aria. When their marriage started she found Luca with a woman. That’s when things changed. After their lives changed for sometimes the worse but yet they found their live for each other.
Luca has been raised to become Capo and to be ruthless and brutal! When Aria is given to him in marriage, everyone expects that he will break her and destroy her innocence, as he’s been taught to do. But Aria awakes in him feelings he thought were impossible for him! Will he be able to protect her from his enemies and from the monster he thinks he is? I have been waiting so long for this book and it’s finally here! I loved Luca and was devastated by the hell he’s been through. With Aria, he develops feelings that he knows are forbidden in his world, but her innocence and purity of heart are irresistible. He is very protective and I loved watching him fall in love without realizing it! Luca and Aria are made for each other and I highly recommend this book!
After reading both Bound by Honor and Bound by Love and seeing all that Luca and Aria had to went through as a couple, I needed a more insightful perspective on Luca’s character. I loved him in both Bound by Honor and Bound by Love because inspite of being a made man and a mafia don he found it in him to be as kind and gentle with Aria as he could.
The Mafia is a hard world and Luca had to act accordingly but with Aria he was never like that. Even with his flaws he managed to make me respect and admire him.
So his book really gave me the chance to understand him better, to see what he things and what he feels and why he is doing things in a certain way.
**4.5 Stars**
Audiobook Review
I listened to Luca and after having recently read Bound by Honor. I really enjoyed listening to Luca’s perspective of his and Aria’s relationship, as well as his childhood and his induction into becoming a Made Man and his journey towards becoming Capo. I enjoyed the pieces of the book in which his vulnerability came through that weren’t really shown in Bound by Honor.
I think Sebastian York did a phenomenal job as Luca. His reading of Luca was on point and he really put so much emotion into all the pivotal points of the story to make me feel like I was really getting a true sense of what Luca was feeling and going through from his perspective.
I truly enjoyed every part of this story. I cannot wait to read more from this author as I really enjoy her writing style.
Luca Vitiello was my first ever read by Cora Reilly. A gifted copy.
Where do I start? Luca is a mean, savage and ruthless son of the head of The Familigia, whose is next in line to become the next Capo. Both Luca and his brother Matteo suffered at the hands of their father where love and emotion played no part in their childhood. From on early age they were conditioned to become ‘Made Man’.
In a world of pain, retribution and murder they know no bounds and where marriages are arranged as mere business transactions and family will double cross. Aria was such a transaction. Betrothed to Luca, innocent and petrified of the life already mapped and planned for her.
This book is about the Luca, Matteo, Aria and The Familigia. It’s intense. Superbly written and totally captivating. I found myself seeking this book at every given spare moment to devour and escape into. A thoroughly enjoyable read. With a new found love and respect for Ms Reilly’s work this certainly will not be my last read by this extremely talented author. I highly recommend LUCA VITIELLO and give Ms Reilly a truly well deserved 5* for an unputdownable captivating read!
Luca Vitello has stolen ALL of my heart. Literally ripped it out my chest and kept it. Cora Reilly created a masterpiece that will forever be my favorite.
We finally get to see Luca’s childhood through his teenage years to his point of view from Bound by Honor. I absolutely devoured this book. It was amazing and it was so enticing and it got me all hooked, never putting down the book. Luca will always be my man and he was such an enigma that I truly could not wait to get in his head and learn about him from him.
“She knew what I was, and for some reason that made me want to be good to her, to show her that there was more than brutality. At least when she was concerned.”
Luca is unapologetic and he’s truly powerful. I can speak for everyone and falling in love with Luca over and over again was inevitable and I could not avoid it. This book showed a lot of insight in his upbringing and what made him, him. It was such a monumental piece of him that we have all been dying to learn and know about him.
Cora Reilly perfectly executed Luca in every aspect. His character development was phenomenal and I could not get enough of Luca. His point of view shed so much light and it only made him even more beautiful. He consumed me just as he consumed Aria. Luca is a ruthless and lethal Capo and this book further solidified that fact.
This was addictive and I wished it could just keep going.
I must confess that I rarely read stories I know from the different point of view because I think about them as basically same story once again. But oh how I was mistaken with this book. “Luca Vitiello” gave me a lot of desired inside into the head and life of Luca who I felt in love in “Bound by honor” and I was really counting on Cora to show us his point of view.u dream came true and even though I thought I knew this story I was surprised when I saw that some things where not as I thought they were. And that’s big kudos for Cora cause she showed me that I was wrong. Thank you so much for that
As “Bound of honor” and basically all books by Cora are from that kind that you will star reading and wouldn’t be able to put it down. “Luca Vitiello” is book full of quick pacing, hotness and overall intensity. That’s definitely a must read for every fan of Bound series or great start to these books. BIG, HUGE reccomendation.
I always wanted to know what made Luca Vitiello ”The Vice”.
How was his childhood.
To know more about his relationship with his brother Matteo.
His first encounter with Aria.
What did he feel during the first weeks of being married with Aria.
Well my questions were answered.
5 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE STARS!! Wow, this book is phenomenal!! I love Luca he is perfection. This story kept me flipping pages like a mad woman, it was so good. I can’t wait to read more book by this author.
5 Explosive Stars!!
I was hooked from the first chapter. I couldn’t get enough of Aria and Luca, their chemistry was off the charts, and the entire story felt as if I was watching a movie on 3D. This was an entertaining read with a cast of believable and likeable characters, regardless of how bloody ruthless they were.
A great plot, and a storyline beautifully well-crafted that kept me turning the pages, and at the edge of my seat until the very end. Luca Vitiello is a man of mystery, dangerous, deadly, and so much more.
Told from Luca’s POV, this book is everything; emotional, angsty, sad, bloody, hopeful, heart wrenching, passionate, poignant, and captivating. Is just brilliant!!
I received a complimentary copy from the author via NetGalley for an honest review!
Luca
Well let me just say that I absolutely loved this Re-telling of Bound by Honor. We get more of Lucas childhood, and how he became Luca Vitiello.
This is the prequel of the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. This story is Luca’s point of view from the book Bound By Honor. Luca Vitiello’s story is a mafia romance beautifully and darkly written. I loved it! Luca is dark, alpha, ruthless, brutal, and totally handsome! I love him! Aria is also a beautiful character. They share an instant attraction/love, and a sizzling chemistry. The story is fast-paced, intense, and sexy. The secondary characters are also interesting. Now, I want more books written by Cora Reilly! I highly recommend it. If you like dark mafia romance, you will love this one. This story is amazingly dark. Sebastian York did an outstanding job with the narration. Looking forward to listen to the next book in the Series. (review updated with audiobook version)
Luca and Aria are my favorite mafia couple of all time. I love that Cora Reilly keeps returning to them. This book is a retelling of Bound by Honor from Luca’s perspective. I really enjoyed the added bonus scenes of Luca’s and Matteo’s childhood.
Bound by Honor was the book that started my obsession with Cora Reilly’s Mafia stories and made me fall hopelessly in love with her hero Luca Vitiello, the ruthless and brutal Capo of the New York Famiglia, who ended up in an arranged marriage with the most beautiful woman the Chicago Outfit had to offer, Aria Scuderi, in order to guarantee peace between the opposing Mafia clans. Although they both never had a say in this and their bond was based on convenience rather than love they eventually fell hard for each other.
I enjoyed experiencing the whole story from the heroine’s POV but I also wished for the hero’s perspective on many things that happend. Cora has finally granted my wish by giving us Luca Vitiello – the retelling of Bound by Honor from his POV and by giving us never seen before scenes from his childhood and teenage years. This book gave me a deeper insight into this very complex and multi-layered character and allowed me to understand some of his actions much better. I was especially interested to see what made him the impressive man he is today, what shaped him into the feared but respected leader of the Famiglia.
I knew that Luca’s relationship with his father was strained and very troubled and after reading this book I can confirm that Salvatore Vitiello is an even bigger monster than I assumed and that he deserved a painful death. I hated him with the passion of three suns. This man enjoyed hurting others and humiliating them – especially women. I’m so glad that Luca and Matteo hated him for that and that they never wanted to be like him. They obeyed Salvatore because it was their duty but they never respected or looked up to him.
I loved seeing how strong the bond between Luca and Matteo was since they were kids. Luca has always protected his younger sibling and they both were there for each other when their mother killed herself and left them alone with that pathetic excuse for a father. The only person Luca trusted implicitly was Matteo because he knew that his brother would never betray him or hurt his wife. Although he was often testing his patience with his cocky remarks and relentless teasing Luca would die for Matteo and vice versa.
What I was however craving most to see in this book was how Luca felt about having to marry Aria and their first meeting, their wedding night and the first time they made love with each other. Luca was unable to resist his wife’s beauty and charms and especially her kind, soft heart and good-natured personality. Luca was the complete opposite of Aria. He was a man who has seen a lot of horrible things and done many gruesome deeds while Aria was this innocent, naive and very sheltered woman. Despite all of that they fit perfectly – he was her protector who adored her while she was his savior who brought light into his darkness and accepted him with all his flaws and mistakes. They’re a match made in heaven.
This book is a must read for every die hard fan of Luca and Aria Vitiello. I could never get enough of this amazing couple and their beautiful and touching love story. Cora’s writing is as always impeccable and captivating and her character development top notch. I simply adore the way she writes a male POV and sincerely hope that we will see more of the Vitiellos in the near future. I’m giving this wonderful gem 5 deserved stars und bow once again to the queen of Mafia books.
I love that I got a chance to see into the mind of Luca Vitiello. To be able to get a glimpse of his childhood definitely gave you a chance to see why he is the way he is in the other books. It was an amazing read and I was so engrossed through out the story. To see how he saw Aria from the start and through out the book was not what I expected, in a good way.
Another great story that leaves you craving and I cannot wait to see whats next.
After reading Luca Vitiello I can honestly say I don’t think I could love Cora Reilly’s words more than I do right now. She provided some much needed insight into the man, the leader and the Capo that we have always loved but with so much breathtaking depth that it was nothing less than captivating. The picture she painted of him with his painful and strict and often brutal childhood was so vivid and rich in details and emotion. I loved every brilliant word!
More than anything I loved being in Luca’s head to see and experience his thoughts and feelings for Aria. Everything you thought you knew from Bound By Honor was magnified a hundred times as the words, thoughts and emotions he had allowed us to see to the heart of the invincible man. I adored this story! Reilly absolutely knocked it out of the park! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
5+ Stars
Another AMAZING read by Cora Reilly.
I have been along for the ride since the beginning of the Bound By Series and each and every time Cora releases a new book, I am blown away with her talent of writing. This author can truly bring her characters to life within the story, the transfer of emotions from her written words to what a reader can feel is astounding.
Luca Vitiello was exactly everything I thought it would be – written perfection. Luca and Aria’s beginning in Bound by Honor has always been one of my favourites to re-read to date. But now reading it in Luca’s POV has made their journey so much more enjoyable for me. To be inside of his head during some of my favourite scenes in BBH and finally understand why he said and did the things that he did.
I especially liked the added chapters of Luca’s childhood and teenage years. I have always been a big fan of Luca and Matteo’s brotherly bond – these added chapters just solidified my reasons why I love them.
Thank you so much, Cora, for giving us what we’ve been asking for – more LUCA! I highly recommend this to all of my book buddies who are just as Mafia obsessed as me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved hearing this story form Luca’s POV. It was great to hear this story again. We see a side to Luca that we would never expect and it shows his true love/care for Aria. I also love Matteo, I forgot how funny he is and how loyal he is to Luca. Great read!!
I have always loved Luca, so when his story was going to be told from his point of view, I was so very happy! He was even more perfect once I saw things from his side, what his thoughts were, how his emotions played out, the struggles he dealt with internally. I always loved Luca, and after seeing so much as him, it made me understand even more fully why Aria fell for him.
This book allows us behind his veil, but it is so clear this is what Aria saw in him all along. Almost from the beginning, she felt his soul, shone light into his dark, and held his heart. This book may be from Luca’s view point, but it also gave insight into Aria. Her actions and reactions. Why she did some of things that she did, because she knew Luca. Her knowing who he was, allowed her to be who she is
This gives a little more backstory, and a few extra scenes that happened off page, but it is Luca and Aria’s love story from the start, and it was just as beautiful and touching this time around, as it was when we saw it from Aria’s side. Love, love, loved it!