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Dark Verse #3
The Emperor
What happens when a legacy of ruin mates with a realm of blood?
Heir to the notorious Tenebrae Outfit, Dante Maroni has been trained since birth. A silent rebel in the shadows, he has learned to hide his ruthlessness under his charm, his brutality under his suits, and his love for one woman under his silence. Infiltrating the Syndicate responsible for the missing children, Dante discovers information that shatters his reality and forces him to trigger a lethal game.
Daughter of the Maroni housekeeper, Amara has loved Dante for longer than she's known it. Abducted and tortured at the young age of fifteen, she loses herself, her life, and her home as she knows it. Years after, unknowingly protected, she's found some semblance of normalcy when her world collapses again, forcing her to join the game.
Mysteries are unraveled. Secrets are discovered. And their young love is transformed, replaced by a deep intimacy, power, and survival.
The reluctant king and inevitable queen play.
An empire of death is born.
Heir to the notorious Tenebrae Outfit, Dante Maroni has been trained since birth. A silent rebel in the shadows, he has learned to hide his ruthlessness under his charm, his brutality under his suits, and his love for one woman under his silence. Infiltrating the Syndicate responsible for the missing children, Dante discovers information that shatters his reality and forces him to trigger a lethal game.
Daughter of the Maroni housekeeper, Amara has loved Dante for longer than she's known it. Abducted and tortured at the young age of fifteen, she loses herself, her life, and her home as she knows it. Years after, unknowingly protected, she's found some semblance of normalcy when her world collapses again, forcing her to join the game.
Mysteries are unraveled. Secrets are discovered. And their young love is transformed, replaced by a deep intimacy, power, and survival.
The reluctant king and inevitable queen play.
An empire of death is born.
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2021
About the author
RuNyx
13 books6,435 followersUSA TODAY and international bestselling author, RuNyx enjoys creating universes and setting them on fire. She loves to travel, wants to adopt a dog before 30, and learn different languages. When she's not writing, she's reading, traveling, meditating, daydreaming, and most of all, procrastinating.
Even though she's intensely private, she shares a strong bond with her readers. Her favorite part about writing is knowing that it has somehow changed somebody's day in some corner of the world for the better.
Join her newsletter tribe for all updates and stalk her on her social media (although she's self-admittedly most active on Instagram).
Website ➡️https://runyxwrites.com
Newsletter ➡️ tinyurl.com/runyxnewsletter
Instagram ➡️ instagram.com/authorrunyx
Reader Group ➡️ facebook.com/groups/runyx
Even though she's intensely private, she shares a strong bond with her readers. Her favorite part about writing is knowing that it has somehow changed somebody's day in some corner of the world for the better.
Join her newsletter tribe for all updates and stalk her on her social media (although she's self-admittedly most active on Instagram).
Website ➡️https://runyxwrites.com
Newsletter ➡️ tinyurl.com/runyxnewsletter
Instagram ➡️ instagram.com/authorrunyx
Reader Group ➡️ facebook.com/groups/runyx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,459 reviews
September 18, 2022
♾/5⭐️ this felt like the 3rd season, with 24 episodes, of the best tv show on the planet. just when i thought this series couldn’t get any better, it fucking did. this is my top in the series so far. i fucking flew through this book like it was my last day on earth. my eye sockets burned and melted reading this so fucking fast. i’m not even fucking joking like i can barely see myself write out this review so excuse the typos if there are any. this is hands down one of the top, if not the top book i’ve read this year. yeah it’s that good.
you don’t know what forbidden love is and how absolutely heart wrenching and devastating and beautiful it is until you’ve read this book. Dante and Amara’s love for one another isn’t just the fiercest thing i’ve read but most ferocious.
i went from reading scenes that had me swooning to crying on the floor ready to throw this book all the way to the moon only for me to catch it back and continue reading. Dante and Amara’s souls are cosmically intertwined and destined to be together in any lifetime.
Dante…omg i want this man to serenade me..bro that dirty talk?!? i didn’t know words could be stitched together like that. he’d say the most filthiest things and my back arched like a cat’s. the vile and wicked things i’d do to get this man in my blood stream…if he was real, he’d have a restraining order against me.
Amara was such a refreshing pov to read from. she’s literally so relatable and reads romance too?!! like @ me already. her bravery and courage was admirable to read about. i legit was balling my eyes out, snot dripping down my nose, crying and trembling over the shit she went through and the way she still ended up the baddest bitch in the bunch.
i literally don’t know how tf can i ever read another book ever again after reading this masterpiece?!
you don’t know what forbidden love is and how absolutely heart wrenching and devastating and beautiful it is until you’ve read this book. Dante and Amara’s love for one another isn’t just the fiercest thing i’ve read but most ferocious.
i went from reading scenes that had me swooning to crying on the floor ready to throw this book all the way to the moon only for me to catch it back and continue reading. Dante and Amara’s souls are cosmically intertwined and destined to be together in any lifetime.
Dante…omg i want this man to serenade me..bro that dirty talk?!? i didn’t know words could be stitched together like that. he’d say the most filthiest things and my back arched like a cat’s. the vile and wicked things i’d do to get this man in my blood stream…if he was real, he’d have a restraining order against me.
Amara was such a refreshing pov to read from. she’s literally so relatable and reads romance too?!! like @ me already. her bravery and courage was admirable to read about. i legit was balling my eyes out, snot dripping down my nose, crying and trembling over the shit she went through and the way she still ended up the baddest bitch in the bunch.
i literally don’t know how tf can i ever read another book ever again after reading this masterpiece?!
May 30, 2021
I don’t know where to start. I apologise for the freakin long review in advance, I just had things I needed to say! I just love how this series isn’t “stereotypical” its different in its storyline and the way it deals with certain situations. it’s also pretty clear that the author’s writing really improved here. This one was darker than the previous two, but still so emotional and so raw? Dante and Amara’s relationship was just so sweet? So strong? So real? Those two were just so perfect together.
“You’re the beat to my heart, Amara,”
I love Tristan. I really do, that man doesn’t talk much, but he knows how to make you love him. Now, I was surprised by how much I freakin loved Dante here. I mean I liked him before. But here? He just owned my heart without even trying. Let’s talk a little about how protective considerate loving and caring Dante is....
~ He is a mafia heir who listens to audiobooks in the early mornings while he sculptures.
~ He found a lost damaged boy and did every annoying thing he could do to befriend him. I loved him and Tristan’s bromance so much.
~ He gave her heels??? Amara suffered a traumatic event that made her unable to walk, so he used to carry her out everyday. And when she has healed, her balance was off so she couldn’t wear heels. He brought her heels and hold her hand and made her dance. (No not me getting emotional again)
“You’re not going to walk through life, Amara,” he uttered roughly, each word a vow that cemented itself in her heart. “You’ll dance through it. And I’ll fucking remove anyone who tries to break your rhythm. I promise you.”
~ He was so freakin understanding and caring and considerate. He didn’t rush her or push her. He moved with her pace.
“It works with you stopping me when you need to, and me stopping. Or you telling me to keep going, and me going on. Simple as that.”
“And if I keep stopping you?” she voiced the one fear she had.
“Then I stop. No questions.”
~ He kept fighting for her. For them. For a future he wasn’t sure of. But he still believed in them. And she believed in him. So they just kept their intense forbidden love hidden even if it was hard for both of them, but they still fought for each other.
“One day, I’m going to put my ring on that finger, Amara,” he grit out, pushing up another inch into her. “One day, I’m going to put my babies inside you. Just wait for me, baby. Please wait for me.”
~ After her exile, he got her a cat and left it in front of her house so she doesn’t feel lonely. She didn’t even know that the cat that kept her company and made her feel less alone was from him.
~ This...
“We both fucked up, Amara,” he told her, his eyes blazing. “And we’re both going to own up to it. And we’re both going to talk about this and forgive and move on. I’m not giving you a choice here. I didn’t work my ass off all these years for something trivial as lack of communication to break us.”
A man who can freakin communicate?? I never thought I would see someone who use communication to fix things. I thought those are rare species.
“In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn’t that how it goes?”
I also really loved Amara. She’s a freakin hero. I loved her sweet side. Her broken side. Her strong fighting side. She was so amazing. A true queen. I loved these two together so much. And I loved seeing the old characters here as well. And no you can’t make me chose between Tristan and Dante, I’ve decided that I want them both to be mine! Somehow, this series has become so special to me and uhhh I can’t wait for the next book!!
#1 The predator ~ 4.25 stars
#2 The Reaper ~ 4.5 stars
#3 The Emperor ~ 4.5 stars
Song recommendation:
Exile by Taylor swift ft. Bon Iver
Power by Isak Danielson
Love and war by Fleurie
Skulls by Bastille
March 20, 2023
"You’re not going to walk through life, Amara, You’ll dance through it. And I’ll fucking remove anyone who tries to break your rhythm. I promise you."
SOULMATES THAT'S WHAT DANTE AND AMARA ARE 😭❤️
Amazingly beautiful ✨️❤️ This book was so so beautifully written. I can't even articulate how much I love this book and this couple. It was just perfect. Dante and Amara's story was painful, beautiful, and very heartwarming for me to read. I didn't expected this much from this book but it really outdid every expectations I had from it. This book was a roller coster ride of emotions for me. One minute I was smiling and giggling and the other minute I was a sobbing mess because of what they both went through 😭 I was so intrigued by Dante and Amara when they both were mentioned in "The Predator" because I knew that they were a forbidden love and that they both loved each other since they were child, and it all had me excited for their book and "The Emperor" delivered it all.
The Emperor is the third book in Dark Verse Series. Well this book continues from where the "The Reaper" ended. But there are some scenes that were kinda repeated from the previous books in this series but from Amara and Dante's pov. This one is also written in third pov but has dual pov of both Dante and Amara. Some parts were really hard to read because of what Amara went through (CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS FIRST).
This one was much darker than the other two books because of the assault and torture that had happened to young Amara and all the dark secrets they found out about the Syndicte.
The story is divided into two parts. The first one is the childhood of Dante, Amara and Tristan and the second part is of the present where Dante and Amara love blossoms into something much more beautiful.
They were a forbidden love because Dante was the heir to the Outfit while Amara was the daughter of the servant of the Outfit. Their love was so pure in spite of all the darkness in their lives. It was so so beautiful 🥺 They both fought for each other, for their love and for their future. And they both deserve all the happiness 😭❤️ Dante and Amara are so precious for me 💖
I loved the teenage Amara, Dante and Tristan. Amara was so adorable and cute. And Dante a rebellious teenager who loved to messed with his fucked up father (but that didn't ended well for him). Tristan the dangerously adorable silent teenage boy. I bet he was cute but his silent glares would kill anyone. I just want more of teenage Tristan 🥲
Amara fell in love with Dante when she was just a ten year old girl. She thought that it was just a crush and that it would just pass. But nope, her whole live she only loved and longed for only one man. Dante Maroni.
It was so cute all those stolen glances and Amara giving cookies to Dante and the sweetness of their realtionship. Amara went through a lot when she was just a fifteen year old but Dante was there for her at every step of her recovery. Dante was her anchor.
It was just beautiful to watch him help Amara healing and all the while falling for her. Their friendship was so adorable 😭❤️ Tristan helped Amara too, he wouldn't speak to her much but his actions said all the things he couldn't say to her.
The second part of the book is set in the present day which still focuses on the mystery of The Syndicate and also discovering the truths about Amara's kidnapping. So much is happening in Dark Verse Series and hell everytime I think yesss yesss I know what is gonna happen next. RuNyx as always drops the bomb of some shocking truth or a hella lot complicated mystery. Well I think you just can't predict everything when you are reading RuNyx's books.
Dante Maroni "The Emperor"
This man god I don't have words for how much I love him😭💖 The way he talks and the way he cares for Amara is just 🤌😭. His fierce protectiveness for Amara and his loved ones. God, he is such a gentleman. He is sweet, kind, dangerous, respectful and a very hot dirty talker in the bed. But I'm not even complaining because Dante Maroni knows how to use his mouth at its best whether its talking or 👅😏 He even matched the structure of his dragon tattoo on his back to match her scars so that it looked like a dragon breathing fire across her back when they stood side by side 😭 He loves to listen to Audiobooks and is a fuckin' Potterhead. Are you kidding me !?! This man is just so perfect but fictional. This is so unfair god 🥲 He fought for the love of his life and for their future even though that war was against his father. Well his father was a shit hole.
One of my most favourite thing in this book was Tristan and Dante's buddy romance. Lol I am convinced they are besties but Tristan won't admit this truth 🤣 If I can sum up their friendship, Bromance it will be like......
Dante "Tristan you’re my buddy now 😁"
Tristan "piss off 🖕"
Amara Rossi "The Warrior Queen"
My best best girl 😭💕 she's so precious and deserves so so so much better. I'm so proud of her about how she dealt with her trauma and never let her assault and trauma to tear her apart. She has the purest and the most beautiful soul. She is not a broken beauty but she is a warrior queen. I will do anything for her just to see her happy 🥺 People thought that she's just so fragile because of her low voice and her kindness but they didn't know that she will kill you if you ever tried to mess with her loved ones. I love her so much 😭❤️
I loved the budding friendship between Morana and Amara and how both the women stood by each other's side whenever needed.
Tristan and Morana's relationship is also developing on a very healthy path. Hell Tristan is even thinking about honeymoon resorts because Morana keep showing those to him. He even gave Dante some relationship advice about how communication is good for relationships. Haha my man is totally whipped 🤣 There was this scene where Tristan was making pizza for Xander Ahhh I absolutely adore this duo 🥺 (I think there's more to know about Xander. He doesn't seems like a lost child who was just rescued by Tristan and Dante)
Tristan and Morana is still my favourite couple of this series and I don't think it will ever change in future. I love my Caveman and Wildcat 😌
There is always this tension between Lulu (Amara's cat) and Tristan 🤣 I bet Lulu just wants to know how Tristan feels but that man wouldn't even let her touch him and I know he would never let Morana adopt a cat because he knows there will be a tough competition between the cat and him 🤣
The ending was perfect ✨️. Dante and Amara had a wedding and they also had their baby girl Tempest Talia Ava Maroni 🥺💖 I know they are going to be amazing parents 😌 I was crying and giggling at that scene when Amara entered holding Tempest in her arms and Dante kissed his daughter's forhead and then kissed his woman. Ahhh they are so adorable and they deserve this 😭❤️
—Favourite Quotes—
"You’re my magnum opus, Amara,” he told her, pressing his forehead against hers, “And I am your humble servant.”
“No,” she whispered, her words falling against his lips. “You are my emperor."
"You are a fucking warrior queen, and I’m so proud of you."
"You remember what I told you about chess pieces? That I didn’t know what piece you were?”
“Yes.” He turned his neck to put his eyes on hers. “You’re the queen on the board, Amara. You’re my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I’ll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
"In his world of gunshots and screams, her voice was a gentle prayer, evidence that there was life after the endless noise."
"I will kiss you and brand myself upon your heart, Amara. Just make sure you’re ready for me to.”
"You're in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops."
"You're the beat to my heart, Amara."
"Give me your dreams and your nightmares, your pleasure and your pain, your fantasies and your fears. Give me everything. Be my queen outside, and my filthy girl inside, And make me fucking yours, so everyone who looks at my ring knows I have you finally. Say yes, Amara."
"You’re the queen on the board, Amara. You’re my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I’ll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
"He always had a bit of my heart, but I’m not that girl anymore. My heart isn’t the same anymore. This new heart, it doesn’t just love him, Ma. It beats for him."
God, I am already missing them 😭 And this book was not enough for me I need more of Dante and Amara. I just hope I'll get to read more about them in the next books in this series because I NEED MORE OF DANTE AMARA AND TRISTAN MORANA.
I am kinda intrigued about whoever this Shadowman is 👀 He is kinda sus......
Ahhh Dark Verse is one of the best series I have ever read (I know it's not completed yet but my decision is not gonna change). I dived into this series without any expectations but hell it is so so so fucking good 🔥😩
SOULMATES THAT'S WHAT DANTE AND AMARA ARE 😭❤️
Amazingly beautiful ✨️❤️ This book was so so beautifully written. I can't even articulate how much I love this book and this couple. It was just perfect. Dante and Amara's story was painful, beautiful, and very heartwarming for me to read. I didn't expected this much from this book but it really outdid every expectations I had from it. This book was a roller coster ride of emotions for me. One minute I was smiling and giggling and the other minute I was a sobbing mess because of what they both went through 😭 I was so intrigued by Dante and Amara when they both were mentioned in "The Predator" because I knew that they were a forbidden love and that they both loved each other since they were child, and it all had me excited for their book and "The Emperor" delivered it all.
The Emperor is the third book in Dark Verse Series. Well this book continues from where the "The Reaper" ended. But there are some scenes that were kinda repeated from the previous books in this series but from Amara and Dante's pov. This one is also written in third pov but has dual pov of both Dante and Amara. Some parts were really hard to read because of what Amara went through (CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS FIRST).
This one was much darker than the other two books because of the assault and torture that had happened to young Amara and all the dark secrets they found out about the Syndicte.
The story is divided into two parts. The first one is the childhood of Dante, Amara and Tristan and the second part is of the present where Dante and Amara love blossoms into something much more beautiful.
They were a forbidden love because Dante was the heir to the Outfit while Amara was the daughter of the servant of the Outfit. Their love was so pure in spite of all the darkness in their lives. It was so so beautiful 🥺 They both fought for each other, for their love and for their future. And they both deserve all the happiness 😭❤️ Dante and Amara are so precious for me 💖
I loved the teenage Amara, Dante and Tristan. Amara was so adorable and cute. And Dante a rebellious teenager who loved to messed with his fucked up father (but that didn't ended well for him). Tristan the dangerously adorable silent teenage boy. I bet he was cute but his silent glares would kill anyone. I just want more of teenage Tristan 🥲
Amara fell in love with Dante when she was just a ten year old girl. She thought that it was just a crush and that it would just pass. But nope, her whole live she only loved and longed for only one man. Dante Maroni.
It was so cute all those stolen glances and Amara giving cookies to Dante and the sweetness of their realtionship. Amara went through a lot when she was just a fifteen year old but Dante was there for her at every step of her recovery. Dante was her anchor.
It was just beautiful to watch him help Amara healing and all the while falling for her. Their friendship was so adorable 😭❤️ Tristan helped Amara too, he wouldn't speak to her much but his actions said all the things he couldn't say to her.
The second part of the book is set in the present day which still focuses on the mystery of The Syndicate and also discovering the truths about Amara's kidnapping. So much is happening in Dark Verse Series and hell everytime I think yesss yesss I know what is gonna happen next. RuNyx as always drops the bomb of some shocking truth or a hella lot complicated mystery. Well I think you just can't predict everything when you are reading RuNyx's books.
Dante Maroni "The Emperor"
This man god I don't have words for how much I love him😭💖 The way he talks and the way he cares for Amara is just 🤌😭. His fierce protectiveness for Amara and his loved ones. God, he is such a gentleman. He is sweet, kind, dangerous, respectful and a very hot dirty talker in the bed. But I'm not even complaining because Dante Maroni knows how to use his mouth at its best whether its talking or 👅😏 He even matched the structure of his dragon tattoo on his back to match her scars so that it looked like a dragon breathing fire across her back when they stood side by side 😭 He loves to listen to Audiobooks and is a fuckin' Potterhead. Are you kidding me !?! This man is just so perfect but fictional. This is so unfair god 🥲 He fought for the love of his life and for their future even though that war was against his father. Well his father was a shit hole.
One of my most favourite thing in this book was Tristan and Dante's buddy romance. Lol I am convinced they are besties but Tristan won't admit this truth 🤣 If I can sum up their friendship, Bromance it will be like......
Dante "Tristan you’re my buddy now 😁"
Tristan "piss off 🖕"
Amara Rossi "The Warrior Queen"
My best best girl 😭💕 she's so precious and deserves so so so much better. I'm so proud of her about how she dealt with her trauma and never let her assault and trauma to tear her apart. She has the purest and the most beautiful soul. She is not a broken beauty but she is a warrior queen. I will do anything for her just to see her happy 🥺 People thought that she's just so fragile because of her low voice and her kindness but they didn't know that she will kill you if you ever tried to mess with her loved ones. I love her so much 😭❤️
I loved the budding friendship between Morana and Amara and how both the women stood by each other's side whenever needed.
Tristan and Morana's relationship is also developing on a very healthy path. Hell Tristan is even thinking about honeymoon resorts because Morana keep showing those to him. He even gave Dante some relationship advice about how communication is good for relationships. Haha my man is totally whipped 🤣 There was this scene where Tristan was making pizza for Xander Ahhh I absolutely adore this duo 🥺 (I think there's more to know about Xander. He doesn't seems like a lost child who was just rescued by Tristan and Dante)
Tristan and Morana is still my favourite couple of this series and I don't think it will ever change in future. I love my Caveman and Wildcat 😌
There is always this tension between Lulu (Amara's cat) and Tristan 🤣 I bet Lulu just wants to know how Tristan feels but that man wouldn't even let her touch him and I know he would never let Morana adopt a cat because he knows there will be a tough competition between the cat and him 🤣
The ending was perfect ✨️. Dante and Amara had a wedding and they also had their baby girl Tempest Talia Ava Maroni 🥺💖 I know they are going to be amazing parents 😌 I was crying and giggling at that scene when Amara entered holding Tempest in her arms and Dante kissed his daughter's forhead and then kissed his woman. Ahhh they are so adorable and they deserve this 😭❤️
—Favourite Quotes—
"You’re my magnum opus, Amara,” he told her, pressing his forehead against hers, “And I am your humble servant.”
“No,” she whispered, her words falling against his lips. “You are my emperor."
"You are a fucking warrior queen, and I’m so proud of you."
"You remember what I told you about chess pieces? That I didn’t know what piece you were?”
“Yes.” He turned his neck to put his eyes on hers. “You’re the queen on the board, Amara. You’re my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I’ll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
"In his world of gunshots and screams, her voice was a gentle prayer, evidence that there was life after the endless noise."
"I will kiss you and brand myself upon your heart, Amara. Just make sure you’re ready for me to.”
"You're in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops."
"You're the beat to my heart, Amara."
"Give me your dreams and your nightmares, your pleasure and your pain, your fantasies and your fears. Give me everything. Be my queen outside, and my filthy girl inside, And make me fucking yours, so everyone who looks at my ring knows I have you finally. Say yes, Amara."
"You’re the queen on the board, Amara. You’re my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I’ll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you."
"He always had a bit of my heart, but I’m not that girl anymore. My heart isn’t the same anymore. This new heart, it doesn’t just love him, Ma. It beats for him."
God, I am already missing them 😭 And this book was not enough for me I need more of Dante and Amara. I just hope I'll get to read more about them in the next books in this series because I NEED MORE OF DANTE AMARA AND TRISTAN MORANA.
I am kinda intrigued about whoever this Shadowman is 👀 He is kinda sus......
Ahhh Dark Verse is one of the best series I have ever read (I know it's not completed yet but my decision is not gonna change). I dived into this series without any expectations but hell it is so so so fucking good 🔥😩
November 8, 2022
I absolutely love Dante in the first 2 books but in this one, he became my husband and true love.
The way he cared Amara right from the beginning was heartwarming.
First it was on a friendship more protective level but THEN AHHHHH.
The way he cared Amara right from the beginning was heartwarming.
First it was on a friendship more protective level but THEN AHHHHH.
Read
February 3, 2021Am I allowed to say that this story left me raw? Because it did.
LIVE NOW ON ALL PLATFORMS!
Grab your copy: https://books2read/the-emperor
LIVE NOW ON ALL PLATFORMS!
Grab your copy: https://books2read/the-emperor
August 5, 2021
~ 𝟯.𝟱
✔ 𝗛𝗨𝗛… 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟, 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦... unexpected. Basically, I went into The Emperor with sky high expectations. Which, I know, I shouldn't have done. But, at the same time, I feel like I couldn't help but have the bar set exponentially high. See, in both The Predator and The Reaper author RuNyx hyped up the romance between Dante and Amara. Throughout both books hints and clues about Dante and Amara's relationship are shown//told to us. Those little insights are both heartbreaking and romantic. Therefore, immediately upon finishing THE REAPER I decided to automatically jump into THE EMPEROR.
✨ᴡʜɪᴄʜ… ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴡᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ✨
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧
✔ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦… 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗, 𝗕𝗨𝗧… something was definitely missing. Which, to be quite honest really sucks. I wanted to love Dante and Amara as much as I came to love Tristan and Morana. Sadly, that kinda never happened. Now, that's not to say that DanteAmara didn't have really sweet and cute moments, they one hundred percent did.
For example, the way they loved each other was fierce, everlasting, and eternally loyal.
There was a soft sweetness to DanteAmara that I wasn't expecting, but that I really enjoyed nonetheless. Dante and Amara truly seemed to love each other in that sweet childhood sweethearts kind of way. They were gentle and kind with each other and it contrasted rather nicely with the brutal backdrop of their world.
Additionally, there was a real dorky (for lack of a better word) feel to their relationship that I honestly wish we had gotten more of. For example, my favorite scene is probably the time that Dante quoted The Princess Bride at Amara. It was so goofy and cute, but at the same time it was so them.
That said, the romance almost took a backseat to the plot towards the second half of the book.
For instance, the time between Dante telling Amara this,
And this,
Is extremely short, about twenty percent, and due to that any romantic development between them felt very unearned. Added to that, the main angst Amara and Dante have to deal with (hiding their relationship) is told to us via Amara's internal monologuing. We're told that seven years have passed. And, in the end, all that angst, longing, and sadness is resolved not even a couple chapters later.
In essence, the romance feels a bit rushed. Even in the beginning I'm still not sure why Dante becomes enamored with Amara. I get why she initially likes him, he's fucking hot and she's in the throes of puberty. And then after her intense trauma he was there for her, scars and all. But why does Dante like her? She's five years younger than him. And when he does rescue her she's fifteen and he's twenty. I don't know… it felt… fast.
Ultimately, I really liked Amara and Dante. But, I feel like this book needed to be split up. Part one and part two felt like two different books. Part one was slow(er), it allowed for us to get to know Dante and Amara, and for the most part I understood why they fell in love. Meanwhile, part two decided that adult DanteAmara needed a shit ton of plot to go along with their romance. While the inclusion of said mafiaplot didn't break the romance for me, it did cause the romance to feel like it was taking a backseat in its own story.
✘ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗙𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛… 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗔 𝗕𝗜𝗧. If THE PREDATOR and THE REAPER reminded me why I shouldn't write off the mafia genre, then THE EMPEROR reminded me why it's not my favorite genre. The plot in THE EMPEROR was both… a lot and nonsensical at the same time. I noticed hints of the above descriptors in books one and two, but it appears that any semblance of restraint was thrown out the window in this book.
In this book especially I began to notice a familiar formula crop up… it goes something like this,
Basically, there comes a time when RUNYX asks me to care more about the mafia-shit then the romance. In essence the romance becomes shoved out of the way in favor of the plot. And, to be perfectly honest, I'm never gonna be able to get on board with that. Especially, when said mafia-shit is resolved in the lamest way possible.
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥… and, tbh, I am still salty about the way her arc was handled. So, basically Amara's sister (yes i forgot her name… bite me) turns out to be the mole The Syndicate placed within The Outfit. Now, I think her character could've made for a great villain reveal. She could've formed a close friendship with Amara, we could've seen the way Amara actually came to really care for her, and thus when she was revealed to be "a villain" we the readers (and Amara) would've been crushed.
✨ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟᴀꜱ… ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.✨
Instead, she pulls a gun on a very pregnant Amara, and starts villain monologuing. And you want to know the most maddening part? The reasons she "turned villain" were extremely compelling. But, instead of using her in future books, or even attempting to redeem her she just gets killed. *sigh* what a waste of a good character.
♥ 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗡' 𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚… and I love him very much. Which, yeah… that's pretty much all I have to say. If anything I wish there were more baby Tristan cameos. I loved watching him learn to emote from Dante and Amara's point of view, and pretty much every scene Tristan was in automatically became pure gold.
See Exhibit A.
Exhibit B.
Exhibit C.
And Exhibit D.
In summary… I am currently in love with Tristan Caine and I will fight any who attempt to besmirch my silent King. He is mine. I don't even care that he's a fictional character. That's not my reality.
🆂🅾🅻🅸🅳 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟… 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝗕𝗨𝗧… I did have my issues with it. My main issues really stem from the sidelining of Dante and Amara's romance. Part one was good, and while it wasn't issue free, I really enjoyed it. I loved getting to see young Dante and Amara (as well as young Tristan), and I really felt the love they held for one another. My issues really started in part two of, THE EMPEROR. That's where the sidelining of DanteAmara began, at least for me. I think the plot-to-romance ratio became a bit skewed.
That said, I am still really glad that I picked THE EMPEROR up. There is something so very addicting about the entire Dark Verse series. The characters are all very compelling, and each couple seems to be distinguishable enough from the other. Additionally, these books once they get going are never boring. That's why I am really looking forward to the next few books in the series. I can't wait to see where author RUNYX takes things next!!
❝I will kiss you and brand myself upon your heart, Amara,❞ he told her quietly. ❝Just make sure you’re ready for me to.❞
✔ 𝗛𝗨𝗛… 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟, 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦... unexpected. Basically, I went into The Emperor with sky high expectations. Which, I know, I shouldn't have done. But, at the same time, I feel like I couldn't help but have the bar set exponentially high. See, in both The Predator and The Reaper author RuNyx hyped up the romance between Dante and Amara. Throughout both books hints and clues about Dante and Amara's relationship are shown//told to us. Those little insights are both heartbreaking and romantic. Therefore, immediately upon finishing THE REAPER I decided to automatically jump into THE EMPEROR.
✨ᴡʜɪᴄʜ… ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴡᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ✨
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧
Amara has loved Dante Maroni, heir to the Heir to the notorious Tenebrae Outfit, for as long as she can remember. However, it's always been an unrequited love.
That all changes during her fifteenth year. That is the year she is abducted, tortured, and rescued.
Dante Maroni has always noticed Amara. Daughter of a kind housekeeper she has always been on his radar. However, the days, months, and years following Amara's kidnapping things change. Dante begins to fall in love with her.
Cut to the present. Amara and Dante are still fighting to keep their love alive. Can they do it when seemingly the entire mafia underworld is against them?
✔ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦… 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗, 𝗕𝗨𝗧… something was definitely missing. Which, to be quite honest really sucks. I wanted to love Dante and Amara as much as I came to love Tristan and Morana. Sadly, that kinda never happened. Now, that's not to say that DanteAmara didn't have really sweet and cute moments, they one hundred percent did.
For example, the way they loved each other was fierce, everlasting, and eternally loyal.
➜ ❝What if I get hurt?❞ she whispered into his jacket. He pulled back so she could see him, his eyes solemn, soft, sincere on hers.
His face dipped closer and he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. ❝Then, I’ll kiss your scars.❞
There was a soft sweetness to DanteAmara that I wasn't expecting, but that I really enjoyed nonetheless. Dante and Amara truly seemed to love each other in that sweet childhood sweethearts kind of way. They were gentle and kind with each other and it contrasted rather nicely with the brutal backdrop of their world.
➜ ❝You and I, Amara, we will never be anyone else’s,❞ he murmured, his words ghosting over her lips.
Additionally, there was a real dorky (for lack of a better word) feel to their relationship that I honestly wish we had gotten more of. For example, my favorite scene is probably the time that Dante quoted The Princess Bride at Amara. It was so goofy and cute, but at the same time it was so them.
➜ … ❝Lie back,❞ she told him quietly and saw his lips pull up in his typical smirk.
❝As you wish, my lady.❞
A laugh escaped her. ❝Did you just quote The Princess Bride while I’m trying to seduce you?❞
❝You never have to try, Amara.❞ …
That said, the romance almost took a backseat to the plot towards the second half of the book.
For instance, the time between Dante telling Amara this,
➜ ❝We’re not a love story. We’re a tragedy in the making. There’s no happy ending for us. I feel that you have a better future ahead of you, and you should take it.❞
And this,
➜ ❝So, will you play with me, my queen?❞
Amara looked into the eyes of the man she loved, saw that same love reflected back at her, and sealed their fates. ❝Yes, I will, my king.❞
Is extremely short, about twenty percent, and due to that any romantic development between them felt very unearned. Added to that, the main angst Amara and Dante have to deal with (hiding their relationship) is told to us via Amara's internal monologuing. We're told that seven years have passed. And, in the end, all that angst, longing, and sadness is resolved not even a couple chapters later.
Dante Maroni as a boy had been her unrequited; Dante Maroni as a man was her undoing.
In essence, the romance feels a bit rushed. Even in the beginning I'm still not sure why Dante becomes enamored with Amara. I get why she initially likes him, he's fucking hot and she's in the throes of puberty. And then after her intense trauma he was there for her, scars and all. But why does Dante like her? She's five years younger than him. And when he does rescue her she's fifteen and he's twenty. I don't know… it felt… fast.
She became his person. She became his.
Ultimately, I really liked Amara and Dante. But, I feel like this book needed to be split up. Part one and part two felt like two different books. Part one was slow(er), it allowed for us to get to know Dante and Amara, and for the most part I understood why they fell in love. Meanwhile, part two decided that adult DanteAmara needed a shit ton of plot to go along with their romance. While the inclusion of said mafiaplot didn't break the romance for me, it did cause the romance to feel like it was taking a backseat in its own story.
✘ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗙𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛… 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗔 𝗕𝗜𝗧. If THE PREDATOR and THE REAPER reminded me why I shouldn't write off the mafia genre, then THE EMPEROR reminded me why it's not my favorite genre. The plot in THE EMPEROR was both… a lot and nonsensical at the same time. I noticed hints of the above descriptors in books one and two, but it appears that any semblance of restraint was thrown out the window in this book.
In this book especially I began to notice a familiar formula crop up… it goes something like this,
ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴀ ɪꜱ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ➜ ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇꜱ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ➜ ᴛʜᴇɴ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴀ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ➜ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ʙ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ➜ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴇɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴍᴏꜱᴛʟʏ ʙᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ➜ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ꜰᴀᴄᴛᴏʀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ ʙ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴀʀʀʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴜᴀʟ ɴᴇxᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.
Basically, there comes a time when RUNYX asks me to care more about the mafia-shit then the romance. In essence the romance becomes shoved out of the way in favor of the plot. And, to be perfectly honest, I'm never gonna be able to get on board with that. Especially, when said mafia-shit is resolved in the lamest way possible.
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
↯ 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙎 ↯
𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥… and, tbh, I am still salty about the way her arc was handled. So, basically Amara's sister (yes i forgot her name… bite me) turns out to be the mole The Syndicate placed within The Outfit. Now, I think her character could've made for a great villain reveal. She could've formed a close friendship with Amara, we could've seen the way Amara actually came to really care for her, and thus when she was revealed to be "a villain" we the readers (and Amara) would've been crushed.
✨ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟᴀꜱ… ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.✨
Instead, she pulls a gun on a very pregnant Amara, and starts villain monologuing. And you want to know the most maddening part? The reasons she "turned villain" were extremely compelling. But, instead of using her in future books, or even attempting to redeem her she just gets killed. *sigh* what a waste of a good character.
♥ 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗡' 𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚… and I love him very much. Which, yeah… that's pretty much all I have to say. If anything I wish there were more baby Tristan cameos. I loved watching him learn to emote from Dante and Amara's point of view, and pretty much every scene Tristan was in automatically became pure gold.
See Exhibit A.
➜ ❝You ever try to leash me, I’ll fucking strangle you with it.❞
If angels could sing, that was the moment Dante heard the whole freaking choir.
Exhibit B.
➜ ❝You know I’m not going anywhere, right?❞ Dante mumbled through the fabric over his mouth, and finally, after a year of drilling, the younger guy spoke.
❝Piss off.❞
Gold. He’d hit gold. Dante grinned behind the handkerchief. ❝Nice to meet you too, Tristan. You’re my little buddy now.❞
Exhibit C.
➜ Morana rushed to perch herself on the space by her bed, her eyes going to Dante’s shirtless chest that he deliberately flexed because he knew it would rile Tristan up. On cue, Tristan glared at him.
❝Don’t you have a shirt?❞
Dante grinned. ❝Actually, no, I don’t Tristan.❞
Tristan sighed, and Amara chuckled as Morana leaned forward to hug her.
And Exhibit D.
➜ ❝Dante will be a good Daddy,❞ Morana gave a cheeky wink, making Amara sputter. ❝So would Tristan,❞ Amara pointed out.
Morana raised her glass. ❝To finding good fathers for our kids. We scored in that department.❞okay that last quote didn't actually have Tristan physically present… oh well… semantics.
In summary… I am currently in love with Tristan Caine and I will fight any who attempt to besmirch my silent King. He is mine. I don't even care that he's a fictional character. That's not my reality.
🆂🅾🅻🅸🅳 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟… 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝗕𝗨𝗧… I did have my issues with it. My main issues really stem from the sidelining of Dante and Amara's romance. Part one was good, and while it wasn't issue free, I really enjoyed it. I loved getting to see young Dante and Amara (as well as young Tristan), and I really felt the love they held for one another. My issues really started in part two of, THE EMPEROR. That's where the sidelining of DanteAmara began, at least for me. I think the plot-to-romance ratio became a bit skewed.
That said, I am still really glad that I picked THE EMPEROR up. There is something so very addicting about the entire Dark Verse series. The characters are all very compelling, and each couple seems to be distinguishable enough from the other. Additionally, these books once they get going are never boring. That's why I am really looking forward to the next few books in the series. I can't wait to see where author RUNYX takes things next!!
┍━━━━━━✧✦━━━━━━┑
𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦
ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴᴇ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ ~ 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✧
ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴛᴡᴏ: ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴘᴇʀ ~ 𝟰.𝟱 ✧
ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ~ 𝟯.𝟱 ✧
ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏᴜʀ: ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜᴇʀ ~ 𝙩𝙗𝙧
┕━━━━━━✧✦━━━━━━┙
March 12, 2023
just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better, it fucking did!!
November 4, 2022
not a single thing happened lmfao what
i miss morana and tristan idc idc
i miss morana and tristan idc idc
September 7, 2021
(3.25) needed more angst babes
December 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
”You’re the beat to my heart, Amara.”
Same Dante. Same. 😏😏😏😏
From the very start I felt very possessive over Amara, I was willing to kill Dante too for her, no matter how much I loved him. And his dirty mouth. And his cuteness. Amara & Tristan above all is my motto now. (Tristan is the main character from book 1 & 2 and if you haven’t read his books yet then what have you been doing all this time? 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃)
The main reason I liked this book so much is because it wasn’t stereotypical, as in there were some scenes you might have read a similar scenario somewhere else but the way the characters react to those situations here is completely different and refreshing.
I don’t know what to say honestly without giving anything away so all I’m going to say is Dante and Amara’s chemistry 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 and the way Dante took care of Amara. Goals.
“I can’t wait to fuck you.” Amara paused, looking up at him with bewildered eyes. “Are you serious?! This is not the time for dirty talk, Dante Maroni.”
“One day, I’m going to put my ring on that finger, Amara,” he grit out, pushing up another inch into her. “One day, I’m going to put my babies inside you. Just wait for me, baby. Please wait for me.”
After reading The Reaper I was left with so many unanswered questions (regarding the side plot of the book) and after this book the amount of questions have been doubled! So I can’t wait for the finisher!!!!! Even though I feel like Runy will still give us bread crumps and then throw the entire bread packet in the last book, which I can not fucking wait for 😂😂😂
Also the H for the next book is extremely hot and gives me DADDY vibes. So I can’t wait 🤤🤤🤤
Special Shoutout to Tristan and Dante’s friendship!
Dante almost chuckled at that, before sobering. “Are we friends now?” “No.”“So what’s this? You watch my back and I watch yours kinda deal?” “Fuck off, asshole.”
Morana rushed to perch herself on the space by her bed, her eyes going to Dante’s shirtless chest that he deliberately flexed because he knew it would rile Tristan up.
On cue, Tristan glared at him. “Don’t you have a shirt?”
Dante grinned. “Actually, no, I don’t Tristan.”
“What, you’re giving me relationship advice now?” He shrugged.
“Communication and shit is important in relationships.”
Dante looked at him in surprise. “Who are you and what have you done with Tristan?”
”You’re the beat to my heart, Amara.”
Same Dante. Same. 😏😏😏😏
From the very start I felt very possessive over Amara, I was willing to kill Dante too for her, no matter how much I loved him. And his dirty mouth. And his cuteness. Amara & Tristan above all is my motto now. (Tristan is the main character from book 1 & 2 and if you haven’t read his books yet then what have you been doing all this time? 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃)
The main reason I liked this book so much is because it wasn’t stereotypical, as in there were some scenes you might have read a similar scenario somewhere else but the way the characters react to those situations here is completely different and refreshing.
I don’t know what to say honestly without giving anything away so all I’m going to say is Dante and Amara’s chemistry 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 and the way Dante took care of Amara. Goals.
“I can’t wait to fuck you.” Amara paused, looking up at him with bewildered eyes. “Are you serious?! This is not the time for dirty talk, Dante Maroni.”
“One day, I’m going to put my ring on that finger, Amara,” he grit out, pushing up another inch into her. “One day, I’m going to put my babies inside you. Just wait for me, baby. Please wait for me.”
After reading The Reaper I was left with so many unanswered questions (regarding the side plot of the book) and after this book the amount of questions have been doubled! So I can’t wait for the finisher!!!!! Even though I feel like Runy will still give us bread crumps and then throw the entire bread packet in the last book, which I can not fucking wait for 😂😂😂
Also the H for the next book is extremely hot and gives me DADDY vibes. So I can’t wait 🤤🤤🤤
Special Shoutout to Tristan and Dante’s friendship!
Dante almost chuckled at that, before sobering. “Are we friends now?” “No.”“So what’s this? You watch my back and I watch yours kinda deal?” “Fuck off, asshole.”
Morana rushed to perch herself on the space by her bed, her eyes going to Dante’s shirtless chest that he deliberately flexed because he knew it would rile Tristan up.
On cue, Tristan glared at him. “Don’t you have a shirt?”
Dante grinned. “Actually, no, I don’t Tristan.”
“What, you’re giving me relationship advice now?” He shrugged.
“Communication and shit is important in relationships.”
Dante looked at him in surprise. “Who are you and what have you done with Tristan?”
February 5, 2023
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“We’re not a love story. We’re a tragedy in the making. There’s no happy ending for us.
I LOVEDLOVEDLOVED this. What else is there to say? Call me a sadist but I just live for these angsty forbidden romances and the couple fight through hell to be together.
Having read the first two books, I could not wait to get to The Emperor and live through Dante and Amara's forbidden love.
What to expect?
— Dark Romance
— Forbidden Love
— Friends-to-Lovers
— Housekeeper's daughter x Mafia boss son/heir
— Close-proximity
— Immaculate spice
— She falls first, he falls harder
— Resilient heroine with a heart of gold
— Alpha posessive hero who is soft for her only
— Action, intrigue, twists, and secrets
— Mafia families
— Dual POV
She was just a girl and he was just a boy, and somehow, their broken pieces matched.
I expected to get a little bit emotional, but I did not expect to be slammed by so many emotions and not only because of the romance, but because of what each character had gone through.
Amara and Dante's love blossomed so beautifully in a world so cruel, they are soulmates fated to love each other yet their reality and roles would not allow it. Dante is the heir and prince of the underworld and Amara is the housekeeper's daughter. There would be no future or happily ever after for either of them and their enemies would make sure of it.
But their love for each other is not to be underestimated, for it persevered through blood, death, and tragedies.
Amara's resilience and kindness and Dante's determination and tenderness made them perfect for each other. Amara never lost that gentle touch of hers despite living among such monsters, and although Dante was raised and shaped by them—he was dangerous but had such tenderness in him that kept him from becoming fully corrupted. They both found their broken pieces and filled the empty spaces in their hearts and souls. And that what makes for a beautiful love story.
I'm absolutely bursting with love for this book. I loved the story, I loved the characters, and the romance was perfect.
“What if I get hurt?” she whispered into his jacket.
he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “Then, I’ll kiss your scars.”
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, PTSD, mention of suic*de, violence, death, torture, abuse, kidnap, child traffick*ng.
“We’re not a love story. We’re a tragedy in the making. There’s no happy ending for us.
I LOVEDLOVEDLOVED this. What else is there to say? Call me a sadist but I just live for these angsty forbidden romances and the couple fight through hell to be together.
Having read the first two books, I could not wait to get to The Emperor and live through Dante and Amara's forbidden love.
What to expect?
— Dark Romance
— Forbidden Love
— Friends-to-Lovers
— Housekeeper's daughter x Mafia boss son/heir
— Close-proximity
— Immaculate spice
— She falls first, he falls harder
— Resilient heroine with a heart of gold
— Alpha posessive hero who is soft for her only
— Action, intrigue, twists, and secrets
— Mafia families
— Dual POV
She was just a girl and he was just a boy, and somehow, their broken pieces matched.
I expected to get a little bit emotional, but I did not expect to be slammed by so many emotions and not only because of the romance, but because of what each character had gone through.
Amara and Dante's love blossomed so beautifully in a world so cruel, they are soulmates fated to love each other yet their reality and roles would not allow it. Dante is the heir and prince of the underworld and Amara is the housekeeper's daughter. There would be no future or happily ever after for either of them and their enemies would make sure of it.
But their love for each other is not to be underestimated, for it persevered through blood, death, and tragedies.
Amara's resilience and kindness and Dante's determination and tenderness made them perfect for each other. Amara never lost that gentle touch of hers despite living among such monsters, and although Dante was raised and shaped by them—he was dangerous but had such tenderness in him that kept him from becoming fully corrupted. They both found their broken pieces and filled the empty spaces in their hearts and souls. And that what makes for a beautiful love story.
I'm absolutely bursting with love for this book. I loved the story, I loved the characters, and the romance was perfect.
“What if I get hurt?” she whispered into his jacket.
he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “Then, I’ll kiss your scars.”
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, PTSD, mention of suic*de, violence, death, torture, abuse, kidnap, child traffick*ng.
February 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! I said it twice before and I'll said it again, WTF IS UP WITH THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS OF THIS SERIES!?!?! I did not expect that person to be connected to what happened... and not only that, what happened to Dante's mother...
This book was so painful, my heart was aching, it felt like it was being squeezed and shattered. The amount of times I was tearing up, absolutely embarrassing. I was no breathing properly while reading this book. (And yes, I may be exaggerating, but that's not the point😃)
Amara is so fcking strong, I can even fathom what she has been through. She is still fighting and pushing through. I admire how she wanted to turn things around and help. She is such a kind and nice person despite everything. Dante was so charming, loyal, protective and determined. I'm glad his father had no influence over him and even though he didn't had his mother for long, you can see how much of an influence she had on him and how that made him the mam he is.
And Dante, oh Dante... I think the "she fell first, but he fell harder" absolutely fits. He was so patient and respectful with Amara. It absolutely warmed my heart. He was so determined to make things work. LITERALLY years in the making, both of them pushing through! And I'm just glad they have a happy ending and I hope it keeps being a happy ending, I have two more book to go through though...
Although the book was in 3rd person, like the other two, this one followed both Dante and Amara, which I'm very grateful. That was kinda my critique for the other ones since it only followed Morana.
Another thing I liked was is the 'flashbacks'. I enjoy seeing the whole back story on how Dante, Amara, Tristan, and Vin got to know each other. Loved seeing how Amara started liking Dante and viceversa. Dante and Tristan's friendship and Amara and Vin's.
There were things that happened that I didn't expect, I like being taken by surprise, which is definitely a plus!
I'm curious about the next one since it centers around Alpha and I absolutely have no idea what to make of him. Judging by how I've reacted while reading these books, I'm sure I'm going to be heartbroken again with all of these back stories and with all that's happening.
I'm not sure how many cameos I'll get in the next book, but I'm hoping at least seeing Dante, Amara, Tristan and Morana here and there since they are very involved with the investigation and I'm guessing Alpha is too now. And maybe some type of alliance between them...?
This book was so painful, my heart was aching, it felt like it was being squeezed and shattered. The amount of times I was tearing up, absolutely embarrassing. I was no breathing properly while reading this book. (And yes, I may be exaggerating, but that's not the point😃)
Amara is so fcking strong, I can even fathom what she has been through. She is still fighting and pushing through. I admire how she wanted to turn things around and help. She is such a kind and nice person despite everything. Dante was so charming, loyal, protective and determined. I'm glad his father had no influence over him and even though he didn't had his mother for long, you can see how much of an influence she had on him and how that made him the mam he is.
And Dante, oh Dante... I think the "she fell first, but he fell harder" absolutely fits. He was so patient and respectful with Amara. It absolutely warmed my heart. He was so determined to make things work. LITERALLY years in the making, both of them pushing through! And I'm just glad they have a happy ending and I hope it keeps being a happy ending, I have two more book to go through though...
Although the book was in 3rd person, like the other two, this one followed both Dante and Amara, which I'm very grateful. That was kinda my critique for the other ones since it only followed Morana.
Another thing I liked was is the 'flashbacks'. I enjoy seeing the whole back story on how Dante, Amara, Tristan, and Vin got to know each other. Loved seeing how Amara started liking Dante and viceversa. Dante and Tristan's friendship and Amara and Vin's.
There were things that happened that I didn't expect, I like being taken by surprise, which is definitely a plus!
I'm curious about the next one since it centers around Alpha and I absolutely have no idea what to make of him. Judging by how I've reacted while reading these books, I'm sure I'm going to be heartbroken again with all of these back stories and with all that's happening.
I'm not sure how many cameos I'll get in the next book, but I'm hoping at least seeing Dante, Amara, Tristan and Morana here and there since they are very involved with the investigation and I'm guessing Alpha is too now. And maybe some type of alliance between them...?
January 20, 2022
5⭐️
fuck me this was GOOD. dante and amara had so much chemistry before their book so i knew i was going to love them. their first kiss actually gave me butterflies like it was so sudden and unexpected. ugh i love love love this book.
the number of times i cried throughout this. the first part was fucking sad, i fucking felt for amara. the girl is so strong and i don't even know how she survived and moved on from that. i cried also at scenes that weren't even sad?? like i just got so emotional.
i honestly can't wait for alpha's book because that man IS SO HOT. i just know that his book will be DARK.
fuck me dante is just such a romantic. i love them them both so much. its actually crazy.
“You’re in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops.”
“She was the beat to his heart and he was the beat to hers, both of them pulsing together.”
fuck me this was GOOD. dante and amara had so much chemistry before their book so i knew i was going to love them. their first kiss actually gave me butterflies like it was so sudden and unexpected. ugh i love love love this book.
the number of times i cried throughout this. the first part was fucking sad, i fucking felt for amara. the girl is so strong and i don't even know how she survived and moved on from that. i cried also at scenes that weren't even sad?? like i just got so emotional.
i honestly can't wait for alpha's book because that man IS SO HOT. i just know that his book will be DARK.
fuck me dante is just such a romantic. i love them them both so much. its actually crazy.
“You’re in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops.”
January 14, 2021
Wow... This was a long journey!
I knew that Dante and Amara were tangled before, but I just didn't imagine the amount of time.
Well... We're talking about more than a decade of a hidden, intense and forbidden love here!
Their journey starts when Amara is 10 yrs old, and Dante is 15 yrs old.
A loooot of things happened with each one of them while they were growing up, to mold the kind of person that they are in their adulthood. Both of them had traumatic situations, and while Dante became more ruthless and vengeful in his life, Amara just wanted to move on and be stronger, not a victim.
Both succeed.
Their love story is the central piece in this book, and they really share a deep and loyal connection. You can see when Dante starts to see Amara as more than a kid, and everything that they went through until their very happy ending.
Amara was really strong in everything that happened to her as a teen, and as an exiled adult. She was really lonely and alone in an enemy territory, waiting for Dante's little crumbs of affection. Not that he wasn't lonely... But he definitely wasn't alone in his journey.
I loved Tristan and Morana's cameos in this book! Amara and Dante were amazing and so in love with each other, that you could really feel their connection and it was AMAZING!
But Tristana will be forever my OTP!
I wish that their past hadn't took so much of the book (their present starts around 50%), and that we could have seen more of their future as a mafia family, but since it's a series, I hope to see more in the next books.
There are more dark subjects mentioned in this book, but again, they're not descriptive, and in my opinion, this book can be considered a very light dark Romance, so if you're not so into dark books, I would say to give it a go on this series.
I love it!
January 8, 2021
i don’t know how to rate this book because i just have alot of mixed feelings towards it— i is confused.
the thing is there is so much that happens in this one book that my feelings and brain cells are overwhelmed. i do love Dante and Amara as characters and even their romance, but somewhere i just felt like the development and the balance between the romance and the actual plot was a bit off. RuNyx tried to divide the timeline of the different events that took place in this book, yet it just didn't work for me because there was just too much going on like one event would occur and then another would occur, and so for some time the attention is divided between different events which is fine, but at the same time though one of the events occurring would end just like that like there isn't much structure to the events making up the story despite having a specific timeline.
the romance between Dante and Amara is very straightforward like when they fall in love, that's pretty much it even though we do get to see their struggles, but the romance is very low on angst which was a disappointment to me because their story could have been so heavy on the angst and bring all the feels. however, i still really like them together and as individuals especially Amara, her story is so sensitive to read, but i loved seeing her flourish in every way.
this is not my first book by RuNyx, it is actually the third since i have also read Tristian and Morana's duet which i also liked and i found their little scenes in this book really cute especially because of how stoic and emotionless Tristian can be. overall, the book turned out to be good though it didn't quite meet my expectations because i wanted and was expecting more.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
the thing is there is so much that happens in this one book that my feelings and brain cells are overwhelmed. i do love Dante and Amara as characters and even their romance, but somewhere i just felt like the development and the balance between the romance and the actual plot was a bit off. RuNyx tried to divide the timeline of the different events that took place in this book, yet it just didn't work for me because there was just too much going on like one event would occur and then another would occur, and so for some time the attention is divided between different events which is fine, but at the same time though one of the events occurring would end just like that like there isn't much structure to the events making up the story despite having a specific timeline.
the romance between Dante and Amara is very straightforward like when they fall in love, that's pretty much it even though we do get to see their struggles, but the romance is very low on angst which was a disappointment to me because their story could have been so heavy on the angst and bring all the feels. however, i still really like them together and as individuals especially Amara, her story is so sensitive to read, but i loved seeing her flourish in every way.
this is not my first book by RuNyx, it is actually the third since i have also read Tristian and Morana's duet which i also liked and i found their little scenes in this book really cute especially because of how stoic and emotionless Tristian can be. overall, the book turned out to be good though it didn't quite meet my expectations because i wanted and was expecting more.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2023
(5⭐️) fucked me up, made me cry 15 times, gave me at least 10 heart attacks, highly recommend 🥰🫶🏻
I didn’t even think it was possible for me to love these two more than tristanmorana but here we are. So far out of the 3 this is definitely my favorite and one of my new all time favorites omfg I loved everything about this I WONT SHUT UP ABOUT IT
Dante fucking Maroni, THIS MAN IS THE STANDARD HES SO HUSBAND MATERIAL. He’s so whipped for her, he fought for her FOR THEM for years, treats her like his queen, spoils her, matched his tattoos to her scars, even got her lulu and she didn’t even know 😭 there’s so much I wanna rant about but I don’t wanna spoil anything important in this review. there’s so many danteamara quotes and the way he sees her from his pov killed me PLS I NEED A DANTE
Tristan was more of the silent type so Dante rlly took me by surprise I didn’t expect him to be this romantic and SUCH A DIRTY TALKER (obvs I’m not complaining)
Amara Rossi, my strong fucking girl who knows her worth and literally the sweetest soul ever my heart broke for her even though I did see it coming (since it was mentioned in the predator) it was still hard to read I just 😭😭😭 and her and lulu is everything I needed it was so cute. I’m so happy she’s back and even closer with morana now 🫶🏻 literally I was so confused with the way she disappeared in the reaper and the tension between her and Dante but everything clicked when I read the emperor
And the tristanmorana crumbs YES just YES and Xander and Tristan scenes too 🥺🫶🏻
the plot twists holy shit I swear they keep thickening through every book this kept me up until 6 am bc I couldn’t stop reading. This book was so stressful so much was happening 😭 and you get Amara and Dante’s full story from childhood till today. Also WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT BONUS EPILOGUE. Runyx really won’t let my heart rest bro 🧍🏻♀️
I didn’t even think it was possible for me to love these two more than tristanmorana but here we are. So far out of the 3 this is definitely my favorite and one of my new all time favorites omfg I loved everything about this I WONT SHUT UP ABOUT IT
Dante fucking Maroni, THIS MAN IS THE STANDARD HES SO HUSBAND MATERIAL. He’s so whipped for her, he fought for her FOR THEM for years, treats her like his queen, spoils her, matched his tattoos to her scars, even got her lulu and she didn’t even know 😭 there’s so much I wanna rant about but I don’t wanna spoil anything important in this review. there’s so many danteamara quotes and the way he sees her from his pov killed me PLS I NEED A DANTE
Tristan was more of the silent type so Dante rlly took me by surprise I didn’t expect him to be this romantic and SUCH A DIRTY TALKER (obvs I’m not complaining)
Amara Rossi, my strong fucking girl who knows her worth and literally the sweetest soul ever my heart broke for her even though I did see it coming (since it was mentioned in the predator) it was still hard to read I just 😭😭😭 and her and lulu is everything I needed it was so cute. I’m so happy she’s back and even closer with morana now 🫶🏻 literally I was so confused with the way she disappeared in the reaper and the tension between her and Dante but everything clicked when I read the emperor
And the tristanmorana crumbs YES just YES and Xander and Tristan scenes too 🥺🫶🏻
the plot twists holy shit I swear they keep thickening through every book this kept me up until 6 am bc I couldn’t stop reading. This book was so stressful so much was happening 😭 and you get Amara and Dante’s full story from childhood till today. Also WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT BONUS EPILOGUE. Runyx really won’t let my heart rest bro 🧍🏻♀️
April 16, 2022
I loved the predator and the reaper but this book was a miss for me. The romance was all over the place and i really didnt feel any chemisty between Dante and Amara. From the beginning their relationship development was all over the place, one moment she is like 11 with a crush on Dante and suddenly she is 15 with Dante being protective of her.
Some of the lines were cringe af and cheesy, but overall the lack of romantic development bothered me compared to the predator and reaper. I know Dante and Amara knows each other for a long time and had feelings for each other but again THERE WAS NO DEVELOPMENT, IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
Some of the lines were cringe af and cheesy, but overall the lack of romantic development bothered me compared to the predator and reaper. I know Dante and Amara knows each other for a long time and had feelings for each other but again THERE WAS NO DEVELOPMENT, IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
May 30, 2021
If you can't tell I'm obssesed with this series😂 I couldn't wait to start Dante and Amara's book.
Dante is the mafia prodigal son who one day is groomed to take over and Amara is their housekeeper daughter who always had a huge crush on Dante.
Their story is told in 3 parts.
The first 2 parts are in the past, following their story from when they are practically children and into their teens. And the third half is present time.
What was my problem actually here?
I didn't like that we spent so much time in the past🙄 I honestly started skimming the middle part bc things were so repetative. I understand the past part bc they have so much history and to better learn their connection it was necessesary but almost 65% of the book and I was still reading about years ago🙄
Then something traumatic and awful happens to Amara and she is exiled from her home and forced to move out. I understand Dante's love for her but damnnn he basically forced her to wait for him and have their relationship in secret FOR YEARS. I didn't like that part and thought that was selfish from his side. If he was so worried about her mental health and truly loved her he would let her have a normal life🙄🙄.
And Amara wasn't really my fav h, yes I felt sorry for her, what she's been through but i found her a little pathetic and very dependent on Dante.
They still had cute moments tho.
He pressed his forehead against hers. “You’re in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops.”
Also the plot from the previous books continues here, and the real action was at the very last ch. Same problem I had with the last books, it felt just thrown in bc the book needed to finish.
My fav part were the TristanMorana breadcrumbs😭😭😭
“Can we get one, caveman?” Morana blinked up at him, putting a hand on his arm. “We’ll adopt a stray.”
Tristan sighed, sending a glare at Amara, and she burst out laughing.
I can't believe they became parentss😭 Tristan as a dad i can.not.handle.that🥺
Dante is the mafia prodigal son who one day is groomed to take over and Amara is their housekeeper daughter who always had a huge crush on Dante.
Their story is told in 3 parts.
The first 2 parts are in the past, following their story from when they are practically children and into their teens. And the third half is present time.
What was my problem actually here?
I didn't like that we spent so much time in the past🙄 I honestly started skimming the middle part bc things were so repetative. I understand the past part bc they have so much history and to better learn their connection it was necessesary but almost 65% of the book and I was still reading about years ago🙄
Then something traumatic and awful happens to Amara and she is exiled from her home and forced to move out. I understand Dante's love for her but damnnn he basically forced her to wait for him and have their relationship in secret FOR YEARS. I didn't like that part and thought that was selfish from his side. If he was so worried about her mental health and truly loved her he would let her have a normal life🙄🙄.
And Amara wasn't really my fav h, yes I felt sorry for her, what she's been through but i found her a little pathetic and very dependent on Dante.
They still had cute moments tho.
He pressed his forehead against hers. “You’re in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops.”
Also the plot from the previous books continues here, and the real action was at the very last ch. Same problem I had with the last books, it felt just thrown in bc the book needed to finish.
My fav part were the TristanMorana breadcrumbs😭😭😭
“Can we get one, caveman?” Morana blinked up at him, putting a hand on his arm. “We’ll adopt a stray.”
Tristan sighed, sending a glare at Amara, and she burst out laughing.
I can't believe they became parentss😭 Tristan as a dad i can.not.handle.that🥺
August 30, 2022
my dumbass thought it was okay to buy a physical copy of this book 🤠
November 13, 2022
The highlight of this book for me were TristanMorana and Xander oh my god Tristan with Xander was so adorable.
I liked Dante and I liked Amara in the first two books and I was so ready to fall in love with them like I did with Tristan and Morana but I just couldn't. They were kinda cheesy for my liking, I did not, for one second like the 'my queen/my king' thing.
That doesn't mean I didn't like the book or both the MCs. I did. They were cute at times and I loved the way they both never gave up on each other. I just wanted more angst, more yearning. I also couldn't understand why Dante started liking Amara in the first place. Also, the surprise pregnancy thing just doesn't work for me. There was more action in this one so that was a plus.
The best part was probably the past chapters. Dante and Tristan's friendship. 😭🤌🏻 Amara and Tristan's friendship 😭🤌🏻 Just teen Tristan 😭🤌🏻
I just want the Shadowman to come forth now I just know I'd go batshit crazy for him.
I liked Dante and I liked Amara in the first two books and I was so ready to fall in love with them like I did with Tristan and Morana but I just couldn't. They were kinda cheesy for my liking, I did not, for one second like the 'my queen/my king' thing.
That doesn't mean I didn't like the book or both the MCs. I did. They were cute at times and I loved the way they both never gave up on each other. I just wanted more angst, more yearning. I also couldn't understand why Dante started liking Amara in the first place. Also, the surprise pregnancy thing just doesn't work for me. There was more action in this one so that was a plus.
The best part was probably the past chapters. Dante and Tristan's friendship. 😭🤌🏻 Amara and Tristan's friendship 😭🤌🏻 Just teen Tristan 😭🤌🏻
I just want the Shadowman to come forth now I just know I'd go batshit crazy for him.
January 2, 2023
⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ DANTEAMARA YOU ARE EVERYTHING TO MEEE
yup. you're seeing this right. i'm finally reading the dark verse series, or in this case... continuing. because i had already read the predator and the reaper possibly a year ago maybe and loved it completely but hadn't yet read after that! THE TIME HAS COME.
i did my reread of the predator and the reaper previously this one and omg i love tristanmorana as much as the first time or even more! and i wanted to so badly meet danteamara and their story finally. i read the emperor and it was SUCH A RIDE. omg the pain, the emotions, the angst!! runyx never misses.
they really embodied the "she fell first, but he fell harder" trope and i love that. amara has had a crush on dante since kids and it's not until years later whne he finally begins to notice her and falls wayyyy harder than her. she's his queen on the chess board and he's going to protect her!! i loved every second i spent reading the emperor. getting back to the dark verse world is always a nice time and because dante and amara are so close to tristan and morana, it was also really nice to see them again and get a little more of what they're currently doing.
the story is hard man.... it's sad and painful and your heart will break. and im talking about the overall plot that's happening while they fall in love. so, in this book you know a little bit more about the syndicate and gosh it's such a hard thing to read :( lots of content warnings for this series tbh rape, sexual assault, torture, child trafficking, murder, etc. and we're going to know more and more about them with each book in the series so im just expecting the worst to happen, to find out, and im not ready *sobs*
im going to continue to the finisher now because i feel like it's the perfect way to read this series, from start to finish. i was going to start another book but im such in a high of the dark verse universe that im going to go ahead and read alpha and zephyr's story!!! WISH ME LUUUCK♡
yup. you're seeing this right. i'm finally reading the dark verse series, or in this case... continuing. because i had already read the predator and the reaper possibly a year ago maybe and loved it completely but hadn't yet read after that! THE TIME HAS COME.
i did my reread of the predator and the reaper previously this one and omg i love tristanmorana as much as the first time or even more! and i wanted to so badly meet danteamara and their story finally. i read the emperor and it was SUCH A RIDE. omg the pain, the emotions, the angst!! runyx never misses.
they really embodied the "she fell first, but he fell harder" trope and i love that. amara has had a crush on dante since kids and it's not until years later whne he finally begins to notice her and falls wayyyy harder than her. she's his queen on the chess board and he's going to protect her!! i loved every second i spent reading the emperor. getting back to the dark verse world is always a nice time and because dante and amara are so close to tristan and morana, it was also really nice to see them again and get a little more of what they're currently doing.
the story is hard man.... it's sad and painful and your heart will break. and im talking about the overall plot that's happening while they fall in love. so, in this book you know a little bit more about the syndicate and gosh it's such a hard thing to read :( lots of content warnings for this series tbh rape, sexual assault, torture, child trafficking, murder, etc. and we're going to know more and more about them with each book in the series so im just expecting the worst to happen, to find out, and im not ready *sobs*
im going to continue to the finisher now because i feel like it's the perfect way to read this series, from start to finish. i was going to start another book but im such in a high of the dark verse universe that im going to go ahead and read alpha and zephyr's story!!! WISH ME LUUUCK♡
March 24, 2023
4.5 STARS
"You’re the beat to my heart, Amara,”
"In his world of gunshots and screams, her voice was a gentle prayer, evidence that there was life after the endless noise."
Pure love, nothing else.
"You’re the beat to my heart, Amara,”
"In his world of gunshots and screams, her voice was a gentle prayer, evidence that there was life after the endless noise."
Pure love, nothing else.
October 31, 2022
3.5 🌟
Completely ate up the Tristan x Morana crumps but aside from this (also very unpopular opinion), Dante and Amara’s story was a let down >:(
Completely ate up the Tristan x Morana crumps but aside from this (also very unpopular opinion), Dante and Amara’s story was a let down >:(
March 20, 2023
this is probably my least fave in the series but I still lovedddd!!
February 20, 2022
As much as i loved Dante and Amara
They talked like MGK and Megan
They talked like MGK and Megan
October 6, 2022
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The loyalty. The angst. The devotion. The love. 💯
''In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn't that how it goes?''
Safety gang:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of child tr*fficking, abuse, torture
- R*pe
- Kidnapping/torture
- Mention of su*cide
- Violence/D*ath
- HFN
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I took a short break from continuing with the series since I was going on holiday and I wanted to be unbothered and in the right state of mind before continuing, especially since there are dark and heavy themes in this world.
I loved Dante from the moment we are introduced to him. He such a wonderful character and just an overwhelmingly good guy that you cannot help but fall in love with him. Despite growing up in the world he is a part of he never let it make him truly cold or dead inside. His love for his younger brother, the people around him that deserve his affection was such a breath of fresh air.
I enjoyed reading about his childhood/teenage years and how everything shaped him. Amara was exactly who he needed and their devotion to each other for 10 years while never knowing if one day they could be together freely was heartbreaking.
He was dedicated solely on her and did everything he could to keep their love going despite all the obstacles and destruction that was promised if they were truly together. His dad was just evil in the prior books, and we find out more about his past and what he did to his wife and how he got a hold of her. Kidnapping and rape? Disturbing. We also find out he has a bastard son by the name of Alpha who we briefly meet and fall also in love with since he is such a mystery.
I know a lot of people do not like the pregnancy trope, but I do and I admired her strength to walk away when Dante faked his death and never mentioned it to her. They had a few miscommunication issues but the way he came about it and basically told her they would figure it out and get it out in the open but it doesn't mean they were over or he hated her for keeping secrets.
Amara's kidnapping as a 15 year old and ultimate torture for 3 days and eventual rape by 3 men was so difficult to read about and it was even worse when we find out Mr.X is her father and he allowed for it all to happen. Even going as far as planting her older half-sister (who she had no idea existed) into her life to keep an eye out and Nerea eventually resenting her and attempting to kill Amara. It's just a fucked-up situation and nobody deserves to ever be a part of. Nerea was raised by her dad and allowed to be r*ped by his friends and discarded. I don't blame her for how she turned out. Evil rooted in her life eventually rooted in her heart and never left.
One thing I really LOVED was how Amara made something of herself during those 10 years. She didn't just wait for him and constantly hide their relationship and solely focused on a man, no! She got an education and a PhD, became a therapist, and used it to help people. Love that for her.
I love this series and I am so happy I finally took the leap and started it. I know we are not even close to finishing this overall arc of a story but the road to it is one that is constantly making me want to cry and one that is going to be so satisfying when it all comes together, and these characters get the ultimate HEA they all deserve.
The loyalty. The angst. The devotion. The love. 💯
''In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn't that how it goes?''
Safety gang:
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of child tr*fficking, abuse, torture
- R*pe
- Kidnapping/torture
- Mention of su*cide
- Violence/D*ath
- HFN
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I took a short break from continuing with the series since I was going on holiday and I wanted to be unbothered and in the right state of mind before continuing, especially since there are dark and heavy themes in this world.
I loved Dante from the moment we are introduced to him. He such a wonderful character and just an overwhelmingly good guy that you cannot help but fall in love with him. Despite growing up in the world he is a part of he never let it make him truly cold or dead inside. His love for his younger brother, the people around him that deserve his affection was such a breath of fresh air.
I enjoyed reading about his childhood/teenage years and how everything shaped him. Amara was exactly who he needed and their devotion to each other for 10 years while never knowing if one day they could be together freely was heartbreaking.
He was dedicated solely on her and did everything he could to keep their love going despite all the obstacles and destruction that was promised if they were truly together. His dad was just evil in the prior books, and we find out more about his past and what he did to his wife and how he got a hold of her. Kidnapping and rape? Disturbing. We also find out he has a bastard son by the name of Alpha who we briefly meet and fall also in love with since he is such a mystery.
I know a lot of people do not like the pregnancy trope, but I do and I admired her strength to walk away when Dante faked his death and never mentioned it to her. They had a few miscommunication issues but the way he came about it and basically told her they would figure it out and get it out in the open but it doesn't mean they were over or he hated her for keeping secrets.
Amara's kidnapping as a 15 year old and ultimate torture for 3 days and eventual rape by 3 men was so difficult to read about and it was even worse when we find out Mr.X is her father and he allowed for it all to happen. Even going as far as planting her older half-sister (who she had no idea existed) into her life to keep an eye out and Nerea eventually resenting her and attempting to kill Amara. It's just a fucked-up situation and nobody deserves to ever be a part of. Nerea was raised by her dad and allowed to be r*ped by his friends and discarded. I don't blame her for how she turned out. Evil rooted in her life eventually rooted in her heart and never left.
One thing I really LOVED was how Amara made something of herself during those 10 years. She didn't just wait for him and constantly hide their relationship and solely focused on a man, no! She got an education and a PhD, became a therapist, and used it to help people. Love that for her.
I love this series and I am so happy I finally took the leap and started it. I know we are not even close to finishing this overall arc of a story but the road to it is one that is constantly making me want to cry and one that is going to be so satisfying when it all comes together, and these characters get the ultimate HEA they all deserve.
February 26, 2021
Spoilers ahead
I want to give this author 5 stars just for her warnings, I absolutely detest when an author doesn't warn readers about triggering subject matters in their books. Not everyone can read about rape or assault and I prefer to be forewarned. So thank you dear author( not 5 stars yet because y'all know I'm stingy with those 😂😂😂😂)
The first part of this book covers Dante and Amara as children, she's the daughter of his family's housekeeper and he's the mafia prince, set to inherit his cruel father's kingdom. As time passes Amara develops a crush on Dante, she's much younger and he has a girlfriend so nothing comes of it. Until she sees him committing a shocking act and she pulls back, by the time she's 15 there seems to be something developing but then she's kidnapped. Held for 3 days, she's tortured for information on the Maroni family and then raped. She's finally rescued by Tristan and Dante.
This started off so cute and then took a heartbreaking turn, I cried buckets but I was prepared going in.
I must say at this point the writing is much improved from book 1, less wordy and more dialogue have already made a big improvement in the quality of this book. Hopefully it continues
On to part 2
Part 2 Amara finally starts healing, they slowly fall in love until his father gives her an ultimatum. She has to cut all ties with Dante to save her mother's and his brother's life. Dante agrees and breaks her heart, months of loneliness and he finally comes to her after a disastrous date. With his powerful father still around they have to hide, for years they hide their relationship. He dates, she dates but no sex with anyone else because they love each other and are still together. Years of secrecy have been chipping away at Amara however.
Again the writing style is much improved from book 1, that sex scene was 🔥lol
On to part 3
Part 3 Dante faked his death to go undercover to finally unravel some of the threads of the Alliance/Syndicate. He didn't tell Amara and though she figured it out she left. Dante isn't about to live without his woman however and tracks her down. Unfortunately they're both kidnapped and the trauma causes further heartbreak for them. Now they're even more determined to find the Syndicate members and put a stkp to the trafficking of children. More children are discovered, Amara is betrayed and while some truths are uncovered it's clear the ties are so tangled they won't be easily unraveled.
********
I really enjoyed this one, there were issues, I mean at times the dialogue was so.unrealistic I had to laugh, Dante said some corny shit I cringed BUT it's clear this author has improved from the previous books, the plot is interesting and the characters are fantastic. It's so hard to.find a good pairing of an Alpha hero with a strong h and this is what this author has delivered for the second time. I'll forgive many issues to have mcs like these!
No cheating
H had a girlfriend for 3 years before the h was kidnapped
After her kidnapping they spent time together and he fell for her. After that no one else though both fake dated to fool his despicable father
h was kidnapped and raped at 15
The plot deals heavily in the trafficking of children
I want to give this author 5 stars just for her warnings, I absolutely detest when an author doesn't warn readers about triggering subject matters in their books. Not everyone can read about rape or assault and I prefer to be forewarned. So thank you dear author( not 5 stars yet because y'all know I'm stingy with those 😂😂😂😂)
The first part of this book covers Dante and Amara as children, she's the daughter of his family's housekeeper and he's the mafia prince, set to inherit his cruel father's kingdom. As time passes Amara develops a crush on Dante, she's much younger and he has a girlfriend so nothing comes of it. Until she sees him committing a shocking act and she pulls back, by the time she's 15 there seems to be something developing but then she's kidnapped. Held for 3 days, she's tortured for information on the Maroni family and then raped. She's finally rescued by Tristan and Dante.
This started off so cute and then took a heartbreaking turn, I cried buckets but I was prepared going in.
I must say at this point the writing is much improved from book 1, less wordy and more dialogue have already made a big improvement in the quality of this book. Hopefully it continues
On to part 2
Part 2 Amara finally starts healing, they slowly fall in love until his father gives her an ultimatum. She has to cut all ties with Dante to save her mother's and his brother's life. Dante agrees and breaks her heart, months of loneliness and he finally comes to her after a disastrous date. With his powerful father still around they have to hide, for years they hide their relationship. He dates, she dates but no sex with anyone else because they love each other and are still together. Years of secrecy have been chipping away at Amara however.
Again the writing style is much improved from book 1, that sex scene was 🔥lol
On to part 3
Part 3 Dante faked his death to go undercover to finally unravel some of the threads of the Alliance/Syndicate. He didn't tell Amara and though she figured it out she left. Dante isn't about to live without his woman however and tracks her down. Unfortunately they're both kidnapped and the trauma causes further heartbreak for them. Now they're even more determined to find the Syndicate members and put a stkp to the trafficking of children. More children are discovered, Amara is betrayed and while some truths are uncovered it's clear the ties are so tangled they won't be easily unraveled.
********
I really enjoyed this one, there were issues, I mean at times the dialogue was so.unrealistic I had to laugh, Dante said some corny shit I cringed BUT it's clear this author has improved from the previous books, the plot is interesting and the characters are fantastic. It's so hard to.find a good pairing of an Alpha hero with a strong h and this is what this author has delivered for the second time. I'll forgive many issues to have mcs like these!
No cheating
H had a girlfriend for 3 years before the h was kidnapped
After her kidnapping they spent time together and he fell for her. After that no one else though both fake dated to fool his despicable father
h was kidnapped and raped at 15
The plot deals heavily in the trafficking of children
January 7, 2021
I'm giving you this moment to pause and see triggers below... BECAUSE THERE IS ONE idk how ppls shall feel so if you wanna read the spoilers triggers go below.
This one is alittle darker then the last 2 books and I always wanted to know what happened to Amara in the last 2 books. You can read this as a standalone BUT I would recommend reading the first 2 books.
Amara and Dante story was tragic, steamy, heartbreaking and ANGSTY... we see how they first met and tell now.
10 year old Amara sees 15 year old Dante in the woods and she already has a small crush on him and from there it grows to love even if she think he doesn't see her. The ups and downs the pinning from afar from both and then tragedy struck when Amara was kidnapped and tortured and raped at 15... 😭😭😭😭. By this moment I was bawling in tears. Until Dante came for her and he made sure those who took her were going to pay. From then their relationship changed and they were closer but still hiding their relationship since Dantes father is a big jackass who would do something to hurt Amara. So their relationship for years has been kept on the downlow, and it was messy when Dante did something and didn't inform Amara now shes also in hiding keeping a secret from Dante. But that isn't stopping this man for finding his queen.. and I gotta say these two were so perfect together but I did love Dante.. Amara is a badass.. with what she went though she earned being Queen..
With all this going on we also find out more clues about the missing kids, more drama about the family and hidden secerts. More questions i have.. I'm wondering who the next couple might be..
Angsty, No ow/om drama(unless you count the fake dating), no cheating, Drama, secondary charas, sexy times, no virgins (we saw Dante date in past and fake date to keep Amara safe she knew and agreed to it & Amara was raped and had few dates but H was her one)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶
Slow-burnish
Semi older/younger couple 5 years apart
Push away from both
Violence
panic attacks
Seperation/pinning years
PTSD
sexual assault
murder
Miscarriage
Mentions of rape and torture
Safe sex/no condom
mentions of human slavery and trafficking
HEA
EPILOGUE
This one is alittle darker then the last 2 books and I always wanted to know what happened to Amara in the last 2 books. You can read this as a standalone BUT I would recommend reading the first 2 books.
Amara and Dante story was tragic, steamy, heartbreaking and ANGSTY... we see how they first met and tell now.
10 year old Amara sees 15 year old Dante in the woods and she already has a small crush on him and from there it grows to love even if she think he doesn't see her. The ups and downs the pinning from afar from both and then tragedy struck when Amara was kidnapped and tortured and raped at 15... 😭😭😭😭. By this moment I was bawling in tears. Until Dante came for her and he made sure those who took her were going to pay. From then their relationship changed and they were closer but still hiding their relationship since Dantes father is a big jackass who would do something to hurt Amara. So their relationship for years has been kept on the downlow, and it was messy when Dante did something and didn't inform Amara now shes also in hiding keeping a secret from Dante. But that isn't stopping this man for finding his queen.. and I gotta say these two were so perfect together but I did love Dante.. Amara is a badass.. with what she went though she earned being Queen..
With all this going on we also find out more clues about the missing kids, more drama about the family and hidden secerts. More questions i have.. I'm wondering who the next couple might be..
Angsty, No ow/om drama(unless you count the fake dating), no cheating, Drama, secondary charas, sexy times, no virgins (we saw Dante date in past and fake date to keep Amara safe she knew and agreed to it & Amara was raped and had few dates but H was her one)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶
Slow-burnish
Semi older/younger couple 5 years apart
Push away from both
Violence
panic attacks
Seperation/pinning years
PTSD
sexual assault
murder
Miscarriage
Mentions of rape and torture
Safe sex/no condom
mentions of human slavery and trafficking
HEA
EPILOGUE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
omg these books are amazing they are like a drug once you start you can't stop 😵
February 2, 2023
the previous gen men can all choke on their dicks and dante maroni can rail me gooDBYE😌✋
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