The King of the Underworld saved me from the streets,Treated me like a princess, And locked me in a tower.Then he turned into a beast.There’s a darkness in him.I’ve seen it face to face.He says I’m his light.But if our love is going to last, I’m going to have to be more than his princess.I need to become a Queen.The final chapter in Marcus and Cora’s story.
Fantastic conclusion to Marcus and Cora’s story! Cora truly earned the title Queen of the Underworld. She is not just the Queen because she is on Marcus’ arm, she grabs that honour by the throat! This story had its emotional ups and downs as some secondary characters play larger roles-Cora takes charge and absolutely owns this book. Marcus and Cora seem to orbit around each other, even when they’re apart. The characters have grown so much since the first book. I love the direction the authors have taken, and this book blood-thirstily unravels the traitors and allies. All hail the Queen!
I received a copy of this book. My honest review is voluntarily provided.
I can’t even begin to tell you how emotionally charged this book is. The ups and downs of Marcus and Cora’s relationship. The secrets being held until, taken by surprise, their forced to release them. The growth of each of these characters and the confessions that are made. This was the ending of a classic and done beautifully. I’m hoping authors Lee Savino and Stasia Black will consider giving voice to Shraro, Armand, Oliva, Philip Waters and Zeke’s story. This was such an easy book/series to become vested in and I’m not read to give them up yet.
Way to end a series Ladies!
This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. The back and forth between Marcus an Cora was was maddening! I loved how Cora’s character has grown and she is no longer the shy, country girl ~ her transformation had me clapping my hands, You show ’em Cora! This book has an great cast of characters that make it more interesting, especially when you are comparing the references to Mythology.
I really loved the way the story ended for Cora and Marcus. This trilogy was so action packed and had such great world building with characters you just can’t help getting invested in. You not only want to know what is going to happen to the MC’s, but their friends as well.
And I loved how much Cora’s character grew from the first book to the last. Marcus was alpha yumminess from start to finish. He just softened up when it came to Cora. I also love how explosive Cora and Marcus were together too! Talk about needing a fan! Wooo!
This conclusion is EVERYTHING and so much more then what I expected filled with so much intense danger and a whole lot of heat I never knew what to expect and I could not put this down it is addicting and so well written just fabulous, Marcus and Cora come alive on every page and demand all your attention. I cant wait for more of this world I loved the characters and lets mention Sharo who I really liked a lot and hope we get more of him
I enjoyed this last book in the series. Cora grew as a person. She became stronger and more confident. I liked how she wanted to become more independent. Marcus suffered while she was living on her own, but he gave her space. When enemies threaten them, they finally unite against them. There are many steamy and sexy scenes. There are also violent scenes.
This is the delightful conclusion to Cora and Marcus’ story. I loved this rich and involving series. The engaging story line will tempt you with its delicious combination of tension, drama, suspense, twists, intense emotions, action, secrets, lies, heat and darkness. You must be prepared for the roller coaster ride that your emotions will go on as the story continues to unfold until it reaches its conclusion. I thought that this was a thrilling, edge of your seat read that delivered the answers I’d been wanting, an ending that left me satisfied and set things up nicely for a new spin-off series, that already has me intrigued and wanting to dive in. If you are like me you will need a refreshing, cool drink and a nap to recover From this ride but it was so worth the trip!!
DEEP, DARK AND DELECTABLE!!!
Dark, twisted and intense! This dynamic duo brings all of your emotions bursting into play so realistically you get caught in its spell. Action packed, nailbiting, spine tingling, nerve racking race against time in this page turning bombshell that keeps on keeping on. A throng of startling circumstances and unforeseen events blast those churning emotions forward in this thrilling storyline and gripping plot. Sparks fly as danger and suspense ensues in epic proportions. Twixt and twined and stretched to unbelievable links until you feel everything the characters feel. The characters chemistry sizzles from the pages and suck you in so deeply until you feel the heat and electricity thrumming through your veins. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it makes a perfect backdrop for this amazing read. Incredible job guys, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!
This is book 3 in Marcus and Cora’s story and the best possible conclusion to their epic ever! This book picks up 2 months after the end of book 2 (When Cora left Marcus). What is Marcus willing to do to get Cora back? Will Cora give in? What will happen when Marcus finds out Cora’s secret? Cora comes into her own in this book and becomes the Queen befitting the King that she married. Every question is answered and then some and we are introduced to new characters for the upcoming series that takes place in the same fabulous world.
I read a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Wow!! This is the conclusion of Marcus and Cora’s story. It starts about two months after Cora ran. It was an emotional rollercoaster of emotions reading this. I loved to see Cora grow in this book. She grew into the Queen she was meant to be. There is suspense, action, lies, secrets, deceit, forgiveness, anger, hurt light, darkness and twists and turns. Marcus wants Cora back and is willing to do what it takes to do that. I don’t want to give anything away. You need to read it. If you haven’t read any of these, start with Innocence, you will be hooked. The two authors did a fantastic job with the storyline and all the characters.
One of my favorite quotes:
“You’re mine. You’ve always been mine. ‘Til the day we die and beyond. ‘Til stars fall and this world is forgotten. Forever.”
What an amazing story, it sizzles from the first page to the last and takes the reader on a roller coaster of an emotional ride. The transformation of Cora was inevitable and a clever twist in the plot. I needed to finish the book but now I am sad it is over, I really, really enjoyed it, it was brilliant.
Book three starts us two months after Cora left Marcus and in the middle of her first new venture as an event planner for her company called Perceptions.
Cora is still Marcus’s biggest, and only, weakness which is being targeted; leaving Cora wanting to be “in the know”.
Sprinkle it all with the misplaced shipment of new drugs that was confiscated by the police in the second book, the new drug Ambrosia, corrupt city officials, plus powerful players from both across the tracks and those that are borderline just waiting for the knife to drop.
What makes this book vastly different, characters besides the two main have POV chapters. Really gives New Olympus a different look, perspective into the inner workings of the plot.
All hail the King and Queen of their cities (wink, wink).
I read the whole series..she comes into herself. The love for her friends and the love for the man who took her used her and fell in love with her…
The conclusion to Marcus’s and Cora’s volcanic love story! Marcus, the man afraid to love and Cora, who cannot stop loving him. Action packed, steamy and emotional. All of their secrets and lies are revealed. Will Marcus’s empire survive? Can they withstand the explosion? One of the best trilogies I have ever read and one that will stay with me a long time. It’s a must read and will not disappoint.
Marcus And Cora’s Mythology-Infused Journey Weaves A Dark Love Story Into A Suspenseful Read Set In New Olympus About Mobsters, Turf Wars, And Revenge. Marcus Grows Weary Of Waiting For Cora To Return, So He Takes Matters Into His Own Hands While Cora Works To Prove Herself A Strong, Independent Woman.
This is book three in the Dark Romance Trilogy, or the Tales of Olympus series. It is preceded by Innocence and Awakening, The series is plot-driven; books one and two end in cliffhangers.
From book one, Innocence:
Cora Vestian, nineteen, finally escaped the from home. She was raised off the grid by a rigid and overcontrolling mother who lectured about needing to protect Cora from the dangers of the world. She had kept Cora’s existence a secret to protect her, yet her own mother beat her and locked her away for days at a time.
Cora is the epitome of innocence when she makes her way from her remote farm to New Olympus without money or ID. She soon secures a nanny job. Bad luck seems to follow her, and when she finally makes friends and goes out, she ends up drugged and kidnapped. But she crosses paths with a handsome knight in shining armor, and her life soon becomes like a fairy tale.
Marcus Ubeli, thirty-two, is taken aback by Cora’s beauty when she enters his office, dirty and tattered. Her innocence reminds him of someone – and a debt is owed. He doesn’t do emotions and he isn’t going to start now, yet he can’t let Cora go. He is the perfect gentlemen with her, courteous and thoughtful. To everyone else, though, he is the cold Lord of the Underworld of New Olympus, a master manipulator and brutal crime lord in command of his own army, the Shades.
From book two, Awakening:
Four months have passed since Cora awoke in a hospital bed and overheard her husband’s words. His treatment of her after their wedding ceremony had nearly destroyed her. Her innocence is certainly long gone. But she finally thought they had a break though, and that the Marcus she fell in love with still resided somewhere inside the cold-hearted crime lord’s body. The unguarded words he had spoken in her hospital room to his second in command, Sharo, shattered that illusion.
Minus the bodyguards, Cora has a certain level of freedom now, so long as she behaves and performs her duties in the public eye. As for the bedroom, Marcus is often too busy to pay her much attention. Bereft of her dreams of true love and resigned to a loveless marriage, Cora is determined to make friends. She continues to volunteer with Maeve. Armand, her husband’s business partner, continues to hire her on occasion for modeling jobs and their friendship continues to grow. Cora makes a new friend of Olivia, who turns out to be a tech genius. Anna, a stripper, makes her way into Cora’s rather untraditional list of friends as well. Marcus might neglect her, but Cora is determined to keep herself busy and occupied in his absence.
Marcus is determined to keep order in New Olympus, even if that means neglecting his new bride until things settle down once again. She is a distraction, much to his chagrin. New Olympus depends upon him – it is a city with needs. Marcus learned that shutting everything down doesn’t work – it only invites unprincipled enemies in to fill the void. So he tries to satisfy the population by providing controlled indulgences while keeping his enemies at bay. He has been hard at work negotiating to bring in a new designer drug, but in the meantime the newest musical sensation, The Orphan, has been brought to town. Marcus has him for a two week engagement, headlining at his club, Elysium. The fans are ecstatic. Unfortunately, Marcus learns that The Orphan’s manager is an old acquaintance.
Years ago Marcus had rid New Olympus of the Titans, who now rule over nearby Metropolis. But AJ Wagner, a businessman affiliated with the Titans, has somehow wormed his way back in. Marcus has no choice but to allow AJ’s presence in the city for the duration of The Orphan’s contract. But with the big deal about to go down and an impending election, timing couldn’t be worse. Marcus’s philanthropy and businesses provide a nice cover for his nefarious activities, but the fragile nature of the dirty politics that his operations rely upon leaves an element of uncertainty.
In this book:
Two months have passed since Cora left her husband’s estate in the middle of the night. She had left word that she needed time alone to think and asked him to respect her wishes. For two months she and her new friend Anna have stayed with Olivia, having lots of girl time – and Armand often joins in as well. With his assistance, Cora has become an entrepreneur, beginning an event planning company and representing models. She no longer wants to be defined by her marriage to Marcus. At twenty, she is trying to figure out who she is and prove that she is a strong, independent woman. Although thoughts of Marcus have never left her, the nightmares of what led up to her leaving him still plague her, robbing her of the ability to sleep. She has yet to process what happened, but as time goes on, she begins to believe that she might have a future without him.
Marcus has given Cora two months. She had promised she would speak to him, but his patience has reached its limit. Cautious not to overwhelm her, he sees her at a gala. They don’t get that opportunity to talk things through, but he is not about to give up on his wife or his marriage. Things get complicated when Philip Waters demands payment for the confiscated shipment. Mayor Zeke Sturm has cut off all communication with Marcus, so he cannot arrange for its return, and hence cannot sell the goods and pay Waters. With the Titans in the background, salivating over an opportunity to get back into New Olympus, trust is at a deficit amongst the various players.
Marcus and Cora’s mythology-infused journey weaves a dark love story into a suspenseful read about mobsters, turf wars, and revenge. Both have transformed over the course of their courtship and marriage. Cora is no longer the timid girl who less than a year ago left her remote farm and learned about the outside world for the first time. And Marcus has developed an entirely new side, though he reserves it just for Cora. He is supportive and encouraging. His incredible patience gives young Cora the ability to choose him, to choose their marriage. Although he still is predisposed to act out on his possessive tendencies with regard to her, he is capable listening and learning.
While in book one the two dance around their feelings for one another under deeply emotional circumstances, in book two they fall into a pattern of denial and avoidance as they pursue their separate interests. Book three finds them even more distant as Cora remains in denial and the space the Marcus affords her leaves her unanchored. In the end, Marcus and Cora earn their happy ending. The prologue introduces several figures from the Beauty and the Rose series, whom the Ubelis meet at a gala.
Wow! Marcus and Cora’s dark and angsty story will leave you satisfied as the final book in the series comes to an end. The couple’s chemistry is incredible, and BDSM elements play a role. Their story is well-written. The plot is somewhat complex. It unfolds slowly, revealing surprises along the way. It takes place in the vivid world of New Olympus, which appears in other books by the authors as well. The characters are nicely defined. The story is written in third person. The POV alternates between Cora and Marcus, though book three has three brief chapters from Mayor Zeke Sturm’s POV and one in Armand’s. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
Queen of the Underworld is the final book in the Dark Mafia Romance trilogy, and you should definitely read this series in order. Cora has made mistakes, the biggest being not trusting her husband and Lord of the Underworld, Marcus. When all secrets are told, will Cora rise up to be the wife Marcus needs her to be?
Oh my goodness, I have been completely hooked on this trilogy and I’m so happy I finally read them. Things that happened in the last book make sense and have reasons, and questions all the way from the first book are finally answered. Plus, the sometimes volatile and always steamy relationship between Cora and Marcus just couldn’t be denied! I absolutely love the transformation that Cora undergoes during this trilogy, from lost little country girl to the wife of a mafia boss that embraces both her goodness and darkness! Marcus isn’t as present in this book as he has been previously, but we still get plenty of his dominant, possessive, and loving self. I love how much of his focus and attention is on trying to win his wife, even when staying away is safer for them all. I feel like there was still the occasional hole in the story, but overall, I’m thrilled with how the romance developed and played out, how the drama unfolded and resolved, and how everything ended! That epilogue, swoon! So good! I highly recommend reading this trilogy!
This book starts a few months after we left off in the second one. Marcus and Cora are still struggling with their relationship, their roles and where they are meant to be. I think there is the most growth in this book in Cora. She seems to have gone through the gamut of emotions and is finally accepting her role. Marcus and Cora finally have that happy ending they have so longed for, that I have been routing for them to have. I could not put this book down. and I still want more. I felt as if Marcus and Cora became friends throughout this series. I was right there with them through all their struggles and triumphs. This was a great way to end their story.
Jack Calihan is one of my favorite narrators. His narration of a mafia story will keep me hooked from the first chapter to the last. He has a great voice and is amazing with his variety of tones to keep all of the characters separate and distinct. jack has a voice perfect the the rough, strong, alpha males of the mafia. I cannot wait to hear more from Jack Calihan.
If you haven’t started this trilogy you are missing out!
Fantastic conclusion to this emotional roller coaster mafia story! Cora & Marcus are fighting for their HEA but there are so many obstacles that it’s a constant uphill battle. One that might just be too much and be the final straw. New twists come to light that put all the puzzle pieces together and the players must make the decision of to whom they pledge their alliance to. After the smoke clears is when you’ll see who the strongest are and which relationships have stood the ultimate test.
Loved this series really entertaining read. Great
Cora is the biggest focus in this the final book of the series. She finds even with trying to break away from Marcus and his dark world a new beginning isn’t in the cards. Twists turns, suspense, intrigue and an acceptance of her husband’s for who he is with a HEA.
Enjoyed Jacks narration with bringing these characters to life.
Reviewed for a fair and honest opinion.