WHEN HATE BECOMES OBSESSION… beast.
Because Mischa Stepanov isn’t a mindless monster—he’s a wolf, and she’s the unwitting doe caught in his midst.
Unraveling the torment of his past may be her only hope of salvation…
Or the secrets uncovered may destroy them both.
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This book killed me slowly thankfully I had a box of Kleenex near by talk about dark tragedies holy crap if you’re one that is easily triggered this book is not going to be easy but if not you cannot pass this book up I’ve read practically every dark and twisted book that I’ve come across and this book tops that list it’s a bit confusing at times from slip in minor details to left out chunks of time that are later explained you just have to grin and bear it until that time comes do not pass this book up click and read this immediately
Look no more! You have found the book you must read! It’s perfect! I was so absorbed and wrapped up in this book, I just couldn’t put it down. I don’t know how Lana Sky does it but the build up of the characters, constant arising questions and the thrilling twisted answers that surprise you it was a great read. Can’t wait for the next one!
Before I begin my review I am gonna say I’m completely hooked to this book. The moment I got my hands on it I couldn’t put this book down. Hands down the best book written by Lana till now.
Initially, when I first got this book, I imagined this book to be a classic, typical, mafia book. However if you’re looking for something like that, then this is definitely not your book. Someone who enjoys dark, intense, mysterious, suspense, dangerous, thriller, torturous mafia book then this is it. To read this book the reader must have an open mind considering how the story is written.
This book revolves around the blood fued between mafia families, the major one being in between Mischa and Robert. The role of Ellen in this is revealed in the book and explains how she is twisted around both of these mafia families.
XV (Fifteen) is the story about Ellen. The reason I’m not saying this book is about Ellen and Mischa is because XV is written in the first POV of Ellen, and throughout the book we view things in her way, hence we really don’t know what goes on on Mischa’s mind and what is his story.
Talking about her character, I absolutely love her because even when she is so broken inside her character is so beautiful written, which is something I can expect from Lana’s writing. Ellen is this innocent girl who has always lived behind the curtains. She is the fifteenth martyr in the mafia family fued captivated by the rival Mafia, Mischa.
In the beginning of the book we get to see her interact with her so called sister Briar and Briar’s brother Robert. Scenes of Ellen and Briar are so intensely written, it makes the readers pity on Ellen. However, the thing which I found frustrating is the fact we don’t know Briar’s side of story so we don’t know what she knows and what she thinks, which then makes me wonder who really is the one to blame in this book?
Robert is another character in this book who is Briar’s big brother. He’s the one who I initially preferred Ellen to be with and some part of me still thinks that maybe Ellen is more compatible with Robert than with Mischa. But again, since this is just the part one of the series we don’t know a lot of secrets which means we really don’t know the characters well enough to judge, thus I’m still not sure who I prefer with Ellen.
As the book goes on secrets are revealed one by one. One of them being who is really Ellen, the answer to this was definitely a shocker.
Coming onto Mischa’s character. What do I even say about his character. So cruel, so brutal, so crazy, but most of all, so mysterious. His character is written so uniquely because even as the story goes on, nothing, absolutely nothing about his past is given away to the readers, until the very end. I find his character so captivating, because we don’t know anything about him, which keeps the reader’s interest as you would want to know more about him, about his side of the story, and most of all about his past.
Through the whole journey of XV, we have Ellen who has her secrets and then we have Mischa who has his own set of secrets and togerther without knowing anything about each other they somehow move along with each other.
One thing different which I absolutely love about this story is that even though the main couple is Mischa and Ellen, XV isn’t fully just about them, there are so many other characters who play a huge role in the plot such as Robert, Briar, Vanda, etc. Without these characters I don’t know how the story would look like. With so many unique characters, the reader would want to know everything about each one of them which is again very frustrating because it is not possible to know each and every character’s side of story and past.
Overall this story is a cunning, cruel, brutal, intense, crazy, chaotic, mysterious, and most of all a very twisted story which makes the storyline interesting to read.
Honestly this book was a major surprise to me, like I said I did expect a classic, typical mafia story, but I’m glad this is not one of them. I totally recommend this book. Can’t wait for the next part.
This is a truly dark but captivating psychological read. Ellen is a stepsister to Robert and more. She is kidnapped by Mischa who is a member of the Mafia. This is a extremely well written story, but not for everyone. I personally could not stop reading it. These tortured characters both angered and broke my heart. Don’t look for a HEA because of many cliffhangers. Truly excellent read!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a very dark psychological drama that thrills with its deeply emotional look at revenge and family secrets. It reels you in immediately, and demands that you stay vigilant as these strongly written characters go head to head in a century old blood feud.
Ellen is one of the Winthrop daughters, hidden away from most of the world. She is kidnapped by the brutal Mischa, who thinks she’s her sister Briar. And this is where the true fight begins. Mischa is unpredictable and violent…But he underestimates Ellen’s strength. He tried hard to break her down, but fails. She has already been through her own hell, and Mischa can’t penetrate that mindset. Ellen starts to compare the two monsters while trying to understand why it’s all happening.
“Which is worse? To be used slowly and sparingly? Or to be chewed and swallowed alive?”
Ellen starts to find solace in Mischa’s care, no matter how hard it is for her to comprehend it. This fuels a strange obsession between Ellen and Mischa.
“And I wake up knowing what true hell is. It’s not the measured cruelty Robert dished out. It’s not fearful memories or repulsive scars. It’s peace— being able to find it, even for a second, while in the arms of a monster. What a terrible power to lord over someone.”
The story ramps up the tension until it finally pops. And it’s a riveting journey to read about. I do wish there was more reveal during the first half, but the writing is excellent and anxiety inducing…exactly how this author undoubtedly wants. Now my anxiety demands more. Book two is coming soon.
Wow! This book will leave you speechless, heartbroken, terrified and screaming. I absolutely cannot decide what to think about Ellen. Her character is part of all those emotions that leave you roller coastering through each page. This story ends on one heck of a cliffhanger but it is still worth reading and writing for the next book. So much is unleashed in this book. It all starts with Ellen being kidnapped as she is mistaken for her half sister. Mischa, who kidnaps her, slowly learns of more about Ellen, his mistake and decides he is going to keep her for awhile and break her. I believe it is in hope’s of putting her back together for himself. What an amazingly, dark and wild ride this far. I cannot wait to learn more about Ellen and Mischa and their crazy family feud that seems to be the start of this whole mess.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So this book is a dark story of Mischa, an intense, cold man. Mischa is out to destroy the Winthrop Family, and Mistakenly takes Ellen. Ellen has already gone through torture in her life, but in captivity Mischa wages mental torture, that Ellen has not been though before. Can Ellen survive he tormentor? This book is full of twist and turns, and the intense emotions suck you in. Must read for any Dark romance lovers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow what a powerful story. It is such a dark and painful corrupted plot with twists that pull you in. Characters that cry out for your understanding and love; you feel compelled to continue reading. I can’t wait till the next story.
This is a story of a broken girl, Elle (Ellen), raised in a world by monsters to eventually become a monster’s plaything and obsession. She knows nothing else but pain and abuse, horror and neglect by those work are her “family”. She seems happy on the outside; but all the while, like the empty shell she is, she suffers quietly. It all changes when she is mistaken for her half-sister and kidnapped. Now her life is replaced by a monster she doesn’t know. She thought she could endure anything, any pain; but this monster is able to work his way through her cracks and get to what remains of her soul. Will she survive?
This story makes you question how fragile the human psyche is and how much it can endure. Physical abuse when administered a certain way can twist the victim to see the offender in a different light, in this story’s case “her God” even though you can tell she hate her husband so.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
XV: Fifteen left me absolutely breathless. It was a dark and brutal story with scenes of unthinkable violence. It was so well written, with many secrets and twists, I couldn’t put it down. It does end in one heck of a cliffhanger and has me anxiously waiting for book two.
Ellen was the ultimate underdog, she had been all her life. From a young age she was hidden away, a dirty little secret, and never measured up to her half-sister. Then she became the wife of an abuser, someone who only wanted candy on his arm and someone he could control and possess. Despite all that, Ellen was a fighter. She was never going to let Mischa win without putting up a fight. My heart broke for her though. She had definitely been conditioned by her husband. Her undying loyalty for him was tough to take.
Mischa had an ax to grind and a hatred of the Winthorp family that stemmed from a terrible injustice over two decades ago. It didn’t matter to him how a person was related to the Winthorps, he just wanted revenge. He did unspeakable things to Ellen. He was cold and relentless. However, there were glimpses that eluded that maybe he was different with Ellen than any of his victims in the past.
Despite the events that took place between these two, you can’t help but wonder where they’re going to end up. Mischa made Ellen feel in a way she never had before. I also got the impression Ellen did the same for Mischa. It will be an interesting and twisted ride, that’s for sure.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review.*
Initially, I was undecided on what rating to give this book. It is well written and is an interesting, intense, mafia, dark romance story. Although, I wouldn’t necessarily call this book a romance because there aren’t really any “romantic” feelings between the 2 MCs (Mischa and Ellen). Which is one of the factors that contributed to my indecision on my rating. This is the first book of a 3 book series, so I know that there is going to be a lot more to the story that will develop over the course of the following 2 books. Book 1 is written in Ellen’s POV (first person) which is another factor that contributed to my rating indecision, because the reader does not get to be inside Mischa’s head to get any type of insight into his actions. There were several times during the course of the book that I scratched my head in confusion (metaphorically) about something that happened or something that was hinted or said. Even after finishing this book, I am still experiencing some mild confusion about what exactly happened and how this story is going to progress. I kinda feel like I need to reread this book to see if there are things there that I just didn’t pick up on. But I’m not going to yet; I’ll probably wait until the whole series is complete before I’ll do that. You may be wondering why I decided to give this book 4 stars. Well, I did that because of all of the things I listed above. Even though it took me a few days to read this book (because of life), this book stayed in my thoughts. There were moments every day, even when I didn’t read it, that I was trying to figure out what was really going on in the book, to try and alleviate my confusion. I know that there is A LOT more to be revealed in the upcoming books and am looking forward to getting the other puzzle pieces (I hope!) that will make sense of the “holes” in book 1. I’m not going to go into detail about the storyline, because I think it is best to go in knowing only what the synopsis gives you. Once again, this is a mafia story and it is dark. There’s not a warning on the book, but there are some things that happen in this book that some people may find difficult to read. If you are a little squeamish, then I encourage that you check out a sample of this book before you decide to buy it. This book does end in a cliffhanger, kind of a major cliffhanger, but not the worst that I’ve ever read. The ending definitely makes me anxious to read book 2. This was the first book that I’ve read by Lana Sky, but it won’t be the last. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and to also checking out some of her other books.
3.75 stars
You have to know, going into any Lana Sky story, that you are in for a whole lot of darkness, some questionable consent when it comes to the sex and a whole lot of hidden back-story that she’s only going to mete out in frustratingly small doses. The more I read of her stuff, the more I find I enjoy it.
Ellen is abducted in a short-lived case of mistaken identity. This book introduces us to most of the major players, all of which are broken and abused, Ellen maybe most of all, but perhaps not. There’s mafia intrigue, the ugliest of the underworld and the activities involved there, mystery and lots of questions at the end. Knowing this was the first of a trilogy left me knowing I’d get answers… eventually.
If you like this kind of story, jump in! I’m really quite impatient for the next one which surprises me.
This was a really good, fast paced read! Once you start it, you won’t want to put it down til the end. Ellen is such a sad, abused character. She’s had to go through so much in this life! Mischa is SO dark and disturbed, so messed up… but there is a reason for his madness! Keep reading and you’ll understand. The ending just blew me away, left me sitting here in shock and saying what just happened?? I can’t walt for book 2! If you love dark romance, you’ll want to read this one!
I have decided Lana Sky is one of my very favorite dark romance writers and this book is one of the reasons why. It is definitely dark, but it is also gritty and edgy and complex and multi layered. It is riveting and emotional and dramatic and leaves you wanting more. I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to see where things go in the next one. If Dark Romance is your thing, if complex characters are what keep you reading, then this will entertain you immensely. 5 Stars!
XV absolutely CONSUMED me. Lana Sky has me captivated from the first chapter. She dragged me into a world that was so dark and mysterious. So many secrets. So many unknowns. I couldn’t put this book down.
Lana Sky is a goddess of darkness. Her characters are brutal, gruesome, mysterious, and dark. I was stripped bare while reading. Mischa is so mysterious. I wanted, no, I NEEDED to know more. I NEEDED to know what happened next. There are still so many unanswered questions that left me wanting.
There are no rainbows and butterflies in this book. It is dark and gruesome. The characters aren’t knights in shining armor or pretty girls in frilly dresses. They are kidnappers. Cold-blooded killers. Nothing is as it seems.
You’ll want to read this book! It really is an amazing read and leaves you with more questions than you started with and a NEED to know more. I would give this book 10 stars if possible!!
like always, this author’s books are on another level. it is definitely not for the faint-hearted. this was a truly dark read and isn’t like typical bad boy stories. even the prologue was just captivating. you really would not want to miss out on reading this!!
Ellen Winthrop is kidnapped instead of her half-sister Briar. She must use her wits to try and stay alive until she can be rescued. But it won’t be easy, her capture is Mischa Stepanov, and he is seeking revenge. This is a very intense story about what some people will do to one another to get what they want. But who really is the winner in the end? I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
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If you’re looking for a traditional mafia book, this is not it. Although there are elements of a mafiya, it is more of a backdrop in this story. I find this story to read more like a dark romance. It is and , these are the types of things in a story that my little black heart rejoices amongst.
The thing that I admire and appreciate about Lana Sky is that she has an aptitude to cultivate a story that is alluring and she writes without trepidation. She brings you the story barring any reservation. Her characters are always powerful and reinforce the plot foundation of her stories.
Mischa Stepanov is a cruel, impetuous monster that is driven by revenge in a blood feud that originated 24 years ago by Ellen’s family. He captures Ellen thinking she is her half sister, and because of her family’s transgressions he tortures her regardless that she is not the prima princess Briar Winthrop. Misha seeks to ruin Ellen with pain, brutality and bloodthirstiness.
Ellen Winthrop is marked as the fifteenth martyr in the blood feud. You empathize with Ellen Winthrop. She is downtrodden, but she has a strength within her that burns through and allows her to endure the castigations and cruelty she receives from both her husband as well as her captor. She petitions Misha to show mercy, but her fate is beyond any compassion he can offer.
There are secrets aplenty that will have your mind whirling with all sorts of possibilities, twists and turns that will have you unsure of the direction the story is heading and a cliff that will have you hanging by your fingernails.
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What the heck did I just read?!?! This book made me feel so so many different emotions – sadness, heartbroken, helpless, fear, empathy, and probably 20 more. I don’t think I have ever felt so helpless while reading a book. Ellen’s life has not been a bed of roses to say the least. She has suffered immensely her whole life, so broken that you want to hold her hand and give her shelter. I can’t help but think she is also one of the strongest women I have ever read, she would have to be to survive the life she has lived. Mishcha is someone that love to hate and hate to love. As much as I want to kill him for the way he has treated Ellen, I have this feeling that he has suffered just as bad. I can’t wait to get his story to delve into his mind. He is drawn to Ellen, and that angers him. I have a feeling that being on the receiving end of his love would be all-consuming. I think she makes him feel, and that is dangerous. I honestly don’t think I have ever felt so exhausted after finishing a book. What I find crazy is that this book doesn’t have a single happy moment in it but I still have this kernel of hope that refuses to go away. I can’t wait to get the next one!
This is a book that will totally slay you. The intense story stuns you and pulls you into a dark world that will leave you emotionally raw and gasping for breath with each powerful twist and turn. The characters are complex, the situation complicated and the tension nail-biting. As Ellen and Mischa’s story unfolds you realize that what may have been planned as a simple hunter and prey situation is actually shaping up into an epic battle of wills. As this is only book one, prepare for the cliffhanger and the desperate need for more that it will leave you with.
This book was simply AMAZING, the story is very internse and dark and i was hooked instantly. i just couldnt let the book down.
The storyline is very suspensiful and there’s a huge mystery elemement to it that successfuly kept me feeling like i was on the edge of my seat.
The main charchter here are written amazingly, we get to explore them and learn more about them as the story goes.
I loved the charchter of Ellen the most, she seemed so fragile at the begining when i first read about her, but quickly my mind changed and she is so so strong.
The ending is a cliffhanger and i cant wait to get my hands on the 2nd installment to find out what happens next.