| Title | : | Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 419 |
| Publication | : | First published April 12, 2019 |
As Capo of the Camorra he rules with a brutal hand over his territory – a territory the Chicago Outfit breached.
Now Remo is out for retribution.
A wedding is sacred, stealing a bride sacrilegious.
Serafina is the niece of the Boss of the Outfit, and her hand has been promised in marriage for years, but kidnapped in her wedding dress on her way to church by Remo, Serafina quickly realizes that she can’t hope for saving. Yet, even in the hands of the cruelest man she knows, she is determined to cling to her pride, and Remo soon understands that the woman at his mercy might not be as easy to break as he thought.
A ruthless man on a quest to destroy the Outfit by breaking someone they are supposed to protect.
A woman intent on bringing a monster to his knees.
Two families that will never be the same.
Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles, #3) Reviews
-
now, a disclaimer: im not in anyway shitting on people who enjoyed this book... but i really fucking loathed this book.
im glad you enjoyed it. but this book is one of my thirteen reasons why.
this book just wasn’t it. Remo Falcone just wasn’t it. all the Falcone men are trash— but not you Nino baby, ily.
the whole book made me sooooo uncomfortable. i read
Bound by the Past first so i knew the general gist of this book so it piqued my interest before id even started this series. and i wanted to see how things ACTUALLY went down between Serafina and Remo after reading everything from Dante’s POV first.
id assumed things weren’t what they seemed from Dante’s POV. but honestly it did just feel like Remo raped her and used small acts of kindness to manipulate her. he continuously threatens, objectifies and degrades her, and i honestly would have expected more trauma from a victim of kidnap, but i think that was the issue— Reilly didn’t even portray Serafina as a victim and glossed over the realities of someone being held captive. she just romanticises the entire traumatic ordeal to fit her storyline, so the whole thing was unrealistic in that sense.
(and i know these series’ are fabricated in the realm of the unrealistic, but some aspects, such as Kiara’s rape in the second book was handled really well, and i loved her and Nino. but the handling of Serafina’s abduction was just tactless and romanticised, when in reality the whole ordeal would be harrowing, heartbreaking and downright disturbing).
i didn’t believe she was in love with him, she just latched onto the small moments of normalcy between them and twisted them into something warped and mildly appealing to ease her discomfort with the situation and convince herself the situation wasn’t as awful as it was.
everything was just very Stockholm Syndrome-esque. Serafina clung to every nice thing he did (which was part of his plan to manipulate her), convincing herself he wasn’t as bad as people and he let on. which was just the author’s excuse to try to get the readers to like Remo if Serafina liked him. no amount of small kindnesses could convince me that Remo didn’t rape Serafina. saving her brother, letting her go for jogs with him etc, was all just part of his plan to get Serafina to trust him and thus manipulate her to sleep with him to ruin her image in the Outfit and tear apart her family.
after that, knowing what her kidnapping was doing to her family, i don’t understand how she could even consider being with him— her mother was distraught, constantly having breakdowns, her father and twin brother going against the Outfit and Dante to save her, her younger sister terrified she could be next. and im supposed to be rooting for them? this guy who’s ripped her family apart for mere sport and just because he can? no thank you. if from what we went by in the beginning of the book, Serafina’s family means everything to her and she seems to just ignore how much Remo ruined them all.
up until they actually *sleep together* (which i consider him raping her), the book made me mildly uncomfortable but i was hoping there would soon be a shift in the plot to make me have that ‘ohhhh I get it now’ moment and start truly rooting for the pair.
but it didn’t come.
instead, he just rapes her.
i don’t know how i was supposed to view that scene as consensual? she attempts to fight him off the second time around after realising what had happened, filled with shame and guilt, and Remo just revelled in it and it was disgusting.
and afterwards, when he finds her having a breakdown in the shower, i was expecting him to console her or something, but he just put the final nail in the coffin for me— ‘try to convince yourself i raped you if it makes you feel better.’
it truly tipped me over the edge, my god. it just added to the creep-factor, and sounded a lot like what someone who just raped someone else would say to try to make themselves feel better, like he was trying to convince himself he didn’t rape Serafina when in actuality he did and that admittance just proved it all the more.
*it’s also an author’s prerogative to write about whatever the fuck they want, right, but frame the content for what it is! don’t frame a non-con or dub-con scene as healthy, consensual sex. i wouldn’t have had an issue if it was portrayed as a non-con or a dub-con scene. at least take accountability for the content you include in your writing.*
i also got the impression she just slept with him because she knew eventually he would rape her. she even admits several times that he’d ‘have forced [her] eventually’ which is a massive red fucking flag.🚩🚩
i feel like her ‘sleeping with him’ was her way of trying to take control of a situation she had no control in— Remo took away her agency and free will, and sleeping with him ‘willingly’ appeared to be her way of taking back some of her agency, which further convinced me that he just raped her. and the author kept talking about how during sex all Serafina could feel was pain. that’s not safe, consensual sex. It shouldn’t be ‘tight’ and painful like Remo loved to keep reminding us. after losing her virginity, she shouldn’t be ‘tight’ like he described, women comfortable in sex (no matter how many times they’ve had sex) shouldn’t be tight, because it shows how the woman isn’t relaxed. so, the constant reminder just screamed to me that Serafina wasn’t comfortable and wasn’t willingly giving herself to him.
and i was also pretty pissed at Kiara. considering her past with her uncle, i thought she’d try and fight for Serafina a bit more, but the moment Remo bares his teeth a bit, Kiara turns into a submissive dog. she also tries to soften Remo’s nature when talking to Serafina and it pissed me off— i at least expected Kiara to be on Fina’s side but she was fucking useless and too blinded by her love for Nino, as though Nino and Remo were remotely the same, when we all know Nino wouldn’t have even gone along with Remo’s awful plan if he wasn’t Capo, and his brothers and Fabiano would do anything for him despite how cruel and callous he can be.
Samuel, her twin had the right idea when she got back after she claimed Remo didn’t rape her:“You’ve never been alone with a man and then you were at the mercy of a monster like Remo Falcone. You had nothing to protect yourself. You did what you had to, to survive. The brain is a powerful tool. It can survive the cruelest horrors by creating alternative realities.”
i think he had it spot on here— she was just trying to convince herself she wasn’t raped. i think to save face with her family, putting the blame on herself, a way to cope with what happened by convincing herself she wanted it. it is common in rape cases that the victim doesn’t even realise they were assaulted until years later. and i felt that this was the case here, that Serafina just didn’t realise it, her brain blocking out the trauma to help her cope with it.
and i honestly think the part that pissed me off the most was Serafina’s complete lack of sympathy and awareness regarding what her family went through while she was gone. seeing how broken and distraught they all were, and her STILL wanting to be with Remo? he ruined her family and she just acted like it was nothing.
and the fact that Sofia, her 11 year old sister has to marry Serafina’s ex-fiancé instead really boiled my blood. she was a child and got the blunt end of the stick, and Serafina just doesn’t care at all. runs off to be with Remo and leaves her family behind in tatters. part of me sympathised with her because i just believed she’d been so thoroughly manipulated by Remo that she couldn’t see straight. but then on the other hand, i had no sympathy for her after just ruining her family, allowing Remo to revel in the ruins of Serafina’s family who she gladly left behind for her rapist and kidnapper.
the more i write this review the more riled up i get. in my opinion , this book glorifies and romanticises kidnapping, rape and abuse🤷🏻♀️ -
4.25 stars
Remo is literally dad(dy) material - in BOTH sense if you know what i mean.
im sorry i can't believe i just said that but it's the truth!! i really thought i was going to hate Remo considering how he forbade Fabiano to be with Leona and beat him up, was a jerk to Kiara, loved torturing people for fun, y'all know the drill. but he's actually a softie?? can y'all believe that??
when he said "Greta, mia cara" to his daughter?? OH MY GOD.
so a little backstory,↳ this book starts off right after the second book and because the Outfit (Dante's mafia group) attacked their territory in
twisted loyalties, Remo (H and capo of Camorra) planned to kidnap Serafina (h and Dante's niece) before her wedding as revenge against the Outfit. after 3 months of captivity Remo let's her go but Serafina is pregnant with twins and there was 1.5 years separation. so this book has the kidnap/captor, with a little bit of beauty and the beast and a splash of hades/persephone and maybe even add in a little bit of rhys/feyre vibes.
~ SPOILERS AHEAD ~
— Remo Falcone"You are an angel, and I'm your ruin."
going back to the man himself, well, i just- i high key love him. i think he's my favorite Falcone right now even though he was a crazy mo'fucka in the first 2 books. but... there's just something about a sociopath going all soft when he met Serafina and then him getting all domesticated with his kids, knowing how to change diapers AND basically sacrificing himself to save Adamo so that his little brother won't be tortured. anyone who saves Adamo is obviously on my good side.
— Serafina Mione"They'd never let me be anything but the dove with broken wings. They couldn't. But I wanted to fly."
finally, a coraverse heroine who's not an innocent, naive blushing virgin. well technically she was a virgin because she's a girl in the mafia but you know what i mean. anyways, i really liked Serafina mainly because she stood up for herself and gave Remo shit.
not gonna lie, i did hate her at one point just because she let Adamo get tortured for a little bit because she didn't tell the truth to her family that Remo didn't actually do all the horrible things he made them think he did. i understand why she hesitated but still. no one, and i mean no one hurts my boy Adamo.
also, i liked Serafina's family in the beginning especially Samuel (her twin) but then i hated all of them by the end - well, except for
Sofia who apparently is going to have her own book with Serafina's ex-fiance, Danilo - because they treated Serafina's kids like trash and THEY TORTURED ADAMO, a 15-year old...
i loved Samuel in the beginning but i felt betrayed when he hurt my boy. like no thanks. bye Samuel and the Outfit, y'all are cancelled.
↣ OW/OM drama
surprisingly, knowing Remo was a bit of a ho in the previous books, there wasn't much drama in this one. well, except for that OW scene in the beginning where he got a bj and had sex with Dinara's mom and Dinara is Adamo's future love interest so yikes and the fact that Serafina was engaged the whole time she was kidnapped but yeah that was it. and during that 1.5 year separation, im 80% sure Remo wasn't with anyone cuz he said "You ruined me for all other women" so... one can only dream.
so anyways, i can never unsee Remo as Massimo from 365 dni and if Remo ever said "are you lost babygorl" i would've died. game over. done.
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ Camorra Chronicles ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･
#1:
twisted loyalties — fabiano x leona ↠ 3.25 stars
#2:
twisted emotions — nino x kiara ↠ 3.75 stars
#3: twisted pride — remo x serafina ↠ 4.25 stars
#4:
twisted bonds — nino x kiara ↠ 4 stars
#5:
twisted hearts — savio x gemma ↠ 1.5 stars
#6:
twisted cravings — adamo x dinara ↠ 2 stars -
I still feel a bit confused, because, for the first time in any of these novels, I actually really liked the main female character!
I was excited about Remo's book, because, let's be honest here, he is the kind of character I like. I love how cruel and twisted he is. And I feared he would just turn into a nice, lovestruck slob.
When the pairing with Serafina was revealed, I was not convinced. I wanted some really strong character. Why not some mercenary? That would be fun.
However, I loved Serafina, who I expected to be a second Arya, actually stood her ground.
My favourite about this series is the dynamics between the Falcone brothers, that did not change.
However, while reading, I did not wish for Serafina to disappear so we could get to the Falcone brothers. It was fun.
Speaking of brothers, I loved the relationship Serafina had with her brother at the beginning of the book.
Remo is officially my favourite psycho. -
Unpopular Opinion Alert
Song ? Any guesses?
🥶Stockholm Syndrome🥶
Very painful realization
Manipulating into f**king isn’t my thing(Did they use protection tho! Umm of Course not DUH-
He could have been a living breathing STD)
I was so in love with Serafina and Remo
I was going to add her to my favorite heroine list you know
And
Then
After 45% I was about to DNF the book instead!!
At that moment I envied everyone who can DNF books I was feeling trapped.
I mean sis literally said I will take my pride to the grave.
Then she hears Kiara moaning
And she just went on Remo like-
She was painfully and embarrassingly easy!!!!
I still can't believe it after showing so much character, power and baddie vibes that's how she gave in!!
I never think I would say this in my life but I got tired of their SMUT
Bcz I legit Didn't FEEL any connection!
Their first time? It was
un-F**king-comfortable to read
SUMMARY
Serafina got kidnapped on her wedding day by Remo
Afterwards very carefully she got manipulated and ended up sleeping with Remo
2 more hate f**ks without protection 😭 (he was manwhore dudeeeee how could you do it without wrapping it up!!!) , after playing and brainwashing Serafina for good two months when Remo finally "steal" her so-called pride within 3days Remo returned her to her family. I reckon he potentially planned the pregnancy too. Then Didn't even bother to check on her??
I mean if I am in love with someone
Okay, Love is a huge deal. If you remotely care about someone you wouldn’t check on her in 1.5 years?
Also, was Mr.Remo celibate during this 1.5 years 🙃?!!
Then Outfit Kidnapped Adamo, Remo saved his brother, Serafina saved Remo.
They f**k some more and bam that great speech, if I have anything in there (very diplomatically will point on his heart) It's yours 🤧
Yeah no thank u
Hard pass!!
Sis didn’t even manage to get a "I Am Sorry" from Remo Groveling is 20 light years foreign concept 😴 Lust made her blind before the kids after the kids too
Can you imagine calling a female protagonist strong when she can't even tell his man she doesn't like it in the A**?
Not to mention Remo bragged about it even if in his head that for her beloved angel he "sacrificed" his favourite position
My god how considerate of him right? 🤣
She literally ended up as a doormat by the end 🙃
At least Kiara Aria said NO and meant it!
I will do Nino instead 😇
I can't believe I considered reading Only Remo's book first 🥺 I shudder to think that I wouldn’t have met the love of my life who is Nino Falcone😭😭 , my tattooed King 🦋🦋🦋
Also, I was feeling like a proud mother to see Kiara in this book 🥺🥺🥺
Anyway Cora Reilly dear for the 100th time
Why do you create characters with so amazing characteristics and personalities then you always destroy them with foolishness?
Right now I am even feeling conflicted about my Rating on Sweet Temptation 🤔 but we will deal with that later.
Now to nourish my broken heart I feel like re-reading Nino's book but fortunately, the next book is about Nino Kiara (Twisted Bonds)
So happy NinoxKiara got TWO books 💕🥺 as they should but also I am sooo scared if Mrs.Reilly has butchered Twisted Bonds too
Guess we will find out
Anyways 2 points for NinoxKiara 🥺💕
And The lovely twins I love them so much 💘💘💘💘💘💘
And I am willing to add additional 0.5 points cz finally I got to read about the great slaughter of Aria and Fabi's Sperm Donor
What can I say I am generous like that 🤭😇 -
One of the biggest issues I had with this series can be found in this book as well - the way main characters treat prostitutes as "whores" and that left a bitter taste in my mouth every time. There is also a scene at the beginning of Remo having sex (but I'd rather use the word "raping") a "whore." It was terrible to read but also very unrealistic of him to spare Serafina of the same fate later on. I see that the author glorifies virginity but seriously, that shit needs to stop.
The sex scenes were uncomfortable to say the least, unrealistic as well. I didn't feel any love or special bonding between the main characters, except lust.
The only thing I liked about this book was the last part with But I still feel that the author had filled like 70% of the book with nonsense instead of developing a better story between Remo and Serafina.
I guess I forget that this is the erotic series so I should stop expecting better developed characters. -
First read (Jul 26, 2019): 2.5 stars
Second read (Oct 4, 2020): 3.5 stars
Third read (Dec 11, 2022): 4.5 stars
For some reason I keep coming back for more and more RemoFina goodness:
extreme emotions, exalted passions, cheap drama, outlandish mafia scrimmage and the cutest family moments?? ✨
I loved all of that so, so much. This story touches me on some deep subconscious level, which is weird as hell considering how outlandish the book actually is.
Each page made me feel either tense, anticipatingwith bated breath 🤡what was about to happen, or oddly comforted and safe, as if everything was right in the world as long as I could read about my favorite captor and captive worming their way into each other's hearts.
✧THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK✧
was very emotionally intense. It mostly depicts Serafina's life in Remo's captivity after he abducts and snatches her away under her fiancé's nose on their wedding day.
I love replaying the scene where Fina is running for her life in that beautiful white dress and impeccable make-up, horrified, while Remo hunts her down in his monstrous, dark glory, chasing her through the forest as if she were a wild animal in my mind.
I could physically experience the electrifying tension cracking between Remo and Fina. Cora Reilly is so good at nuancing the subtle sparks of animosity and attraction between the main characters and bidding her time before slowly building a sense of familiarity between a couple. I love it when authors don't skip one of the most exciting phases of a romantic relationship.(yeah, I call Stockholm and Limo Syndromes romantic, what about that)You could never tell whether Remo would go through with his schemes or was just playing mind games on Fina, and I dug the thrill of it.
✧THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK✧
proved to be much more dynamic and plot-driven by comparison.
It took me only 2 🤡 rereads to come to terms with Remo setting his fierce little bird Serafina free from the comfort of his guilded cage.
Now I'm a wiser person, and I realize that he did it in the name of love and not because he didn't care. He wanted the last bastion of her resistance — her heart— to succumb to him willingly.
Yet, the little voice inside my head still keeps nagging me that the unhinged, psychotic control freak Remo Falcone from the first two books in the series would have never let the woman he loved go. Would have never allowed the situation in which she could've married someone else to happen. Would have never waited passively for her to return.Finally, Serafina screamed, and it was so fucking real that my body reacted to the sound, but not in a way it usually did, not with excitement and the thrill of the hunt. There was something close to revulsion filling my body, hearing her agonized cries and imagining they were real.
My hands curled to fists, my muscles tensing because a deeply buried instinct wanted me to protect her from whatever caused those screams. Unfortunately for her, nothing could protect her from me.
I didn't like that Serafina is the one who fought, betrayed and sacrificed so much for their relationship while Remo took a backseat when his whole personality suggests that he's the fiercer one in their relationship. 🤡 He is not as scary and unhinged in this book as he was in Twisted Loyalties and Twisted Emotions. Him kicking the punching bag in anger and jogging with Serafina in the mornings were cute, but I wish we had more glimpses of his cruelty and unbridled violence.Serafina’s eyes snapped open. They searched my face, and a second too late I realized she got deeper than anyone was allowed. “Enough,” I repeated, my voice shaking with rage and confusion.
“Enough?” she whispered so softly. The sound was like a fucking caress.
That being said, one of my favorite aspects of RemoFina relationship dynamics is how much Remo admires Fina. Her strength. Her intellect. Her courage. When he gets a read on her personality, he never once makes a mistake of underestimating her again. He's intense and obsessive with an undercurrent of softness for her.
Family moments
The Falcone brother dynamics? 😩🤌🏻
Fina's bond with her twin Samuel? 😩🤌🏻
Also, you don't understand how much I loved secret baby drama in this book. The avalanche of shock, disbelief, wonder, tenderness and fierce protectiveness that came in spades from Remo after he and his brothers learned that Fina gave birth to his babies? his black-haired little copies?? 😩idk why he acted so shocked. bro, things happens when you don't wrap it upRemo took the spoon and lifted it toward Nevio’s face, but he didn’t restrain his arms. Before I could warn him, Nevio snatched at the spoon and catapulted sweet potato puree through the room. Most of it landed square on Remo’s shirt. The rest in Nino’s face.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop laughter.
Kiara didn’t show the same restraint. She burst out laughing. Nino wiped his face with a napkin, his eyes on his laughing wife—and softer than I’d ever seen them.
Nevio rocked excitedly in his chair, a toothless grin on his face. Remo glanced down at himself, then at his son, and his lips twitched.
It needs to be said:Savio and Adamo looked as if they were having a stroke. I got it. Remo was one of the most feared men of the country, and here he cradled his baby girl in his arms, patient and careful. Nino was rocking Nevio on his thigh, and my son let out delighted screeches.
Remo and Nino are daddy material. They're the real fucking deal.
My heart literally swelled and grew two times larger when I read the scenes involving them and the kids, and just to be clear: I don't even like kids in real life.
HELPPPP. I've never felt more breedable. -
Pretending to have pride, losing to lust and becoming a doormat and then forgiving a jerk hero without any self respect-heroine.
That's all I can say about this book. Thank you -
Summary: This is the grossest book I've ever read. What's wrong with ppl, that they like Remo? He's just disgusting imo. And on a psychological level not even a convincing/realistic character.
I don't understand why people glorify Remo. He is just a murderer and a rapist. And there are no compelling or even interesting components to his character. And guys like him wouldn't have behaved towards Serafina the way he did irl. Not that I wanted him to rape her!! of course, but it was just so utterly unrealistic. Still they way he treated her was gross and I couldn't feel any love between them. And i didn't understand Serafina one bit. So he was hot?! That was the only reason she would sleep with someone, who has raped hundreds of women and is an all around sadistic asshole without any remorse or morals at all? And the way he behaved towards her and used her after they had sex for the first time was just disgusting. But I can even understand that, because ppl do irrational things sometimes, when they are kidnapped, or at least things we don't understand and shouldn't judge, but why in the world would she go back to him? Yes, she grew up in the mafia, but her family and even her fiancé are way better than this asshole! And then he didn't even show remorse for destroying her life, separating her from her family and twin brother forever!! I could be outraged about the book forever. I didn't understand Serafina. Even if I was so "in love" and attracted to a rapist (which I don't understand, how you could be, because duh.. he's a rapist), I would let my mind rule in this case and not go back to him, especially if I have children. As a consequence I also didn't care for Serafina anymore and this whole read has been useless for me. Also one of the grossest things imo, we got to witness was Remo labeling the women, who choose rape over of death as weak, because it takes a special kind of bravery to chose to continue to live and fight after having to endure such a trauma (ppl don't call themselves survivors for no reason). I also started to hate Fabiano and Nino, because they don't have a backbone at all and were so god- damn submissive towards Remo, even though they didn't agree with his actions. -
Pre-order links:
Amazon Universal:
mybook.to/twistedprideCR
Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twis...
Barnes&Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book...
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/twis...
Playlist
Wings – Birdy
No angel – Birdy
Monster – Lady Gaga
Crucify – Tori Amos
Toxic – Britney Spears
Can’t hold us down – Christina Aguilera
Unless it’s with you – Christina Aguilera
Deserve – Christina Aguilera
Closer – Nine Inch Nails
Fire meets Gasoline – Sia
Bird set free – Sia
Elastic Heart (piano version) – Sia
Lay my body down – Rag’n’bone Man
Wolves - Rag’n’bone Man
Love you any less – Rag’n’bone Man
Never be the same – Camila Cabela
In the Dark – Camila Cabela
Love the way you lie (piano version) – Rihanna
Love me harder – Ariana Grande & The Weeknd
Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
Bleeding love – Leona Lewis
Lost without you – Freya Ridings
White Wedding - Billy Idol -
First read - 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Second read - 3.5 stars (rounded down)
I've been wanting to ask this question for a while now.....what in the world are these mafia men doing all day🤣?
CORA REILLY'S AVERAGE MAFIA BOSS RESUME:
🕵 Breaching mysterious enemy territories
🕵 Transporting unknown cargos to wondrous places
🕵 Fucking whores
🕵 Killing randos
🕵 Getting tattoos
🕵 Repeating the word "honour" like broken records
Notes for employer:There are whores to fuck, Outfit bastards to kill, and the fucking Bratva to piss off.”
He summed it up real well huh....
Remo once said that Serafina could be Capo if they were all less sexist. And you know what, I agree. That girl did not know how to use a mop, literally. She would be an excellent capo.
Oh oh wait! Can't forget the most important attribute in the basic mobster boy kit: preach inspirational tumblr quotes. They can include the word "blood".......maybe even something fancier like "destiny". Or in this case, repeatedly (and very poetically) compare each other to chess pieces. I'm convinced the chess analogies were used JUST so they can theatrically say "I'm the king on this chess board👹 then what am I?🥺🌺 YOU'RE THE QUEEN👑"
Anyway, that wasn't what actually annoyed me. It was the amount of absolutely useless conversations these two had. Find me two other people who could speak more words to each other without actually saying anything.
99% of conversations in this book:
Serafina: YOU WILL NEVER BREAK ME
Remo: I will break you😈
NO I WILL NEVER BREAK
you will break
NO I WON'T!!!!!
yes you will
no I am unbreaka-
Remo then proceeds to break her by putting her in a luxurious bedroom with room service, buying her clothes, giving her pretty nighties, soaking her pretty nighties in blood (okay fine that was cute), going on morning runs, ordering her pizzas, and over all being a real accommodating guy.
Here's a mind-bending riddle for you....what the hell is even break? like what do you mean😩 Break how? Break what???
But shocker.......his tactics work (still no idea how but they said she was #broken so a bitch is broke, whatever). I cannot believe I added this book to my strong-heroine shelf back in the day😭“Do as I say.”
“Or what?” I said harshly. “What could you possibly do to me? You have taken everything from me that mattered. There’s nothing left for you to take, to break.”
Remo aching and torn over which torture technique to use on her next:
No but imagine he actually went ahead and beat her ass🤣🤣🤣 instant 5 stars.
You know who I actually felt really bad for? Her family. They thought their daughter/sister/niece/fiance was raped and tortured but nope😌 Just having a lil pizza in her lil nightie and sucking dick<3
I know in my updates I gave the impression that I'm about to 1 star this book💀 and honestly I thought so too. But then the second half sort of happened and I was weirdly enjoying the hell out of myself. Then I realised I've been enjoying myself the entire time. All this toxicity and dumbassery was too delicious, even considering the fact that Remo is cringy as fuck sometimes.
Now I know mafia romance isn't exactly known for promoting feminist rights and gentlemanly behaviour. But mans sounded like a loser. Idk... if you're gonna be this much of a sexist asshole, at least be classy abt it, you know?the whore regarded me with that fucking submissiveness, that disgusting reverence. No pride, no honor. They all got a choice and chose the easy way, never the hard painful one. They would never understand that nothing could be gained without pain. Weak. Disgusting.
Yea yea yea. Prostitutes are all disgusting, your dick is made of gold, women are actually descendants of chickens, yada yada. Where is your imagination, Remo😔
Also, I have no idea who gave this man the authority to dole out brotherly advice because man😭😭😭 Just do not speak. Literally never open your mouth in front of my baby Adamo again.“Don’t waste your energy on another thought of that girl. She’s worthless. There are many more girls out there. She used you. Maybe now you’ll start using them as well.”
But it's all fine because Remo redeemed himself in my eyes.....by being the most dramatic king♟️ on the planet.“I’m so glad you could make it,” Remo said in a British accent, all posh and sophisticated.
Did he just randomly pop an english accent outta nowhere, that absolute legend🤣🤣🤣🤣
This reminds of when I randomly sneak a word with an english accent to feel more sophisticated about myself. You know you're just speaking, speaking and then suddenly comes this word, this word that would sound superior if you just.......
Remo - a hardened gangster speaking to enemies in a dungeon about his kidnapped captive:
This is supposed to bring the Outfit down. Don’t forget that, Remo.”
My mouth pulled wide. “It will crush them. They will bleed out slowly, painfully, without ever feeling my blade. This will destroy them.”
“My family and fiancé will tear down Las Vegas if you hurt me.”
“Oh, I hope they do, so I can bathe in their blood,”
I CANNOT STAND THIS MAN����😭 I swear if he ever fails in the mafia he should try the theatre.
But Serafina did have her moments too, gotta give her credit...“Oh, Remo, I will be your first angel. Patience is a virtue, and you will be rewarded for it.”
Imagine someone whispered this in your ear while having sex. I'd be like what the fuck is this bitch on about? Patience......virtue....wha?
He ate it up though, good for him.
Other than that, I understand why my 2020 pea brain was impressed enough to give this close to 4 stars. My excuse now is that I am still pea brained.
Overall: Solid book. Adequate soup.
Random fav quote bcz I can:“When will you set me free?” I asked.
“Soon,” Remo murmured but didn’t elaborate. For some reason I heard the echo of the word “never.”
Never. Never. Never.
Ugh the echo, the drama😍 -
Upgraded to 5 Stars
After re-reading this so many times, I am upgrading it. I just love these two. And the fact that I have re-read this book probably 5 times now demands said upgrade.
3.5 Stars
Dammit. After finally reaching that elusive 4-star level with this author in the book I read right before this one (
Bound by Love), I once again fell just a bit short with this one. Which is kinda frustrating.
The elements in every book will all be there, but for some reason, they just don't click all the way for me. I can't explain it. Maybe it's because mafia romance is one of my favorite sub-genres and thus I'm pickier, who knows. And one might ask, why do I keep reading this author if I feel this way?
Well, cause I consider 3 stars to be a decent rating. It means I liked it and had fun reading it. Also, I think Reilly is a great writer. Definitely a professional with an actual editor. So yay. Also, her books are just plain readable and - let's be honest - I am also just running out of good mafia fodder and these are available to me via Kindle Unlimited.
Long story, short: I enjoyed this one, but thought Remo could have been a little darker and the ending a little more polished. -
![moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645500038i/37448930._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
reread (7++): april 2021
pls the fact that i've read this more than seven times and i'm still in love as if it was my first time reading it, gahh. remofina will always be the superior couple for me, thx. ♡
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reread (4): september 2020
it's my fourth time rereading this masterpiece and these two still gives me all the fucking feels. 🥺🤍
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6++ remofina owns my heart stars ☆
hi yes, Remo Falcone is my new book bf. idc that he's a psychotic killer who has a thrill in killing people, but his heart?? it's loyal and protective to those he deeply cares about and that's every-fucking-thing for me. he was the character who kept my attention ever since i started TCC and i'm so happy his story was everything i loved! Serafina (h) was the perfect match for Remo, honestly. he needed someone who wouldn't take his shit and actually fight back and that's literally who she was. i loved her as an individual and as Remo's partner. 🥺 i already know these two will remain my favorite couple in this mafia universe (even tho i haven't read Savio's book yet or Adamo's or whoever else has a story). sometimes you just have that gut feeling about certain couples and it's how i feel for them. ♡ also,
what i disliked:
➴ -
5 ⭐️ - the kind that are solid and 100 rereads can’t change my mind.
I’m going back and revisiting all of Cora’s books at the moment and because this is probably my 5th re-read for this particular book, I need to get it all out for posterity.
First and foremost, Remo is mine and that’s that, he’s just my type of psychopath, so you know what that means... I’m having imaginary babies with the man, what else?
Now that I’ve got that out of the way, I have to say this book is my favourite in the series. Remo and Serafina make so much sense together (personal preference and all that, but those names rock!).
- So we’ve got this slightly psychotic mob boss, who has no qualms about doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. He’s got sarcasm down to a T, a wicked sense of humour and a cruel demeanour. The perfect trifecta, if you ask me. One of his brilliant decisions leads him to kidnap the lovely Serafina (I say lovely but I mean badass in her own reserved way) when she was on the way to her own wedding! (btw- that’s kind of a brilliant idea to open a book with.) Sounds kinda ominous, I know, but it’s anything but, because you guessed it, that’s how their tumultuous romance starts.
- The whole kidnapping thing might sound like this is one of those dark romances with heroines that develop Stockholm syndrome for their obviously hot as sin captor.. it’s NOT - no sexual deviant to lock her in a cage until she’s dripping with love from her battered heart (I know ...my lyricism is on par with the greatest love poems ever written).
- Part of the reason why I love Cora’s books so much is because the heroines are treated with respect, there isn’t any gratuitous/senseless violence or abuse. Yes, they might be a little submissive, (and I don’t mean towards their love interest but within their families) but it’s more a case of them growing up with those values rather than them being scared into it.
- I loved the twists and turns the story took, I didn’t expect some things to go a certain way and that’s always a big sell for me in a book. I also loved the extended cast of characters, they add to the story in the best way possible.
- There’s emotion, action, drama, humour.. and that’s pretty much everything needed to be honest.
And lest we forget, I’ve got a soft spot for a bad boy who is a little crazy, a little murderous, and a lot passionate ...for HER (that mythical creature that gets all the book boyfriends *sighs*). And reading about the way he falls for her, when he was pretty much portrayed as incapable of empathy and romantic love, well, that did something to my...poor young heart of course.
“She rested her palm against my chest, over my heart.
“Is there something in there capable of love?” My fucking chest constricted.
“Whatever’s in there, it’s yours. Whatever love I’m capable of, it’s yours, too.”
She cupped my face, her eyes fierce, almost brutal in their intensity. “You are beyond redemption, Remo,” she whispered, and I smiled bitterly because I knew it.
She shook her head. “But so am I because even free to do as I please, I choose you. I’m no angel. An angel wouldn’t love a man like you, but I do. I love you.”
Damn..
And lastly, I gotta sing some praise for Serafina. Considering she was all about following the path chosen for her by her family, and all about following the mafia rules, we get to see her spread her wings and think beyond the realm of possibility available to her in that context. And I have to say it’s pretty amazing and ironic how Remo was the one to offer her the freedom to choose, out of all people.
Anyway, I’m gonna leave it at that, but not before saying once again, that this book kinda blew me away. Obviously, I’m being extremely subjective, I’ve got a soft spot for the characters that Cora writes and the world she built for those mafiosi. Total disclosure: at this point I'm more invested in their lives than mine.. sad but true. So, now I’m gonna go (im)patiently wait for whatever book comes out next. -
2 Stars.
Twisted Pride was probably my most anticipated read of April. Since I read
Twisted Loyalties I knew Remo was going to be one of my favourite characters through this series and he was until this particular book. I feel like he wasn't himself at all. He was supposed to be cruel and ruthless and a total maniac but he acted like a softie until the very end. The only cruel thing about him were the author's descriptions. 'His cruel smile', 'his cruel, blach heart' and so on. It got so tedious, like this was an amateur's book instead of something written by Cora Reilly.
And don't get me started on Serafina. I didn't like her one bit. I never like the cold, pridefull ones anymore. They have the chance to be awesome but it's like the authors don't know how to portrait a fine, strong female character without making her annoying in the process. Cora made the same mistake with Gianna in
Bound by Hatred. She was supposed to be strong and independant but she was just a disappointment as a heroine. One of the worst's I've read so far. Fortunately, Serafina wasn't as bad as Gianna but I didn't like her either way.
I felt no chemistry between her and Remo. None whatsoever. There was no love, and the lust was a cheap thing since Remo's one of the sexiests guys I've read about, and he 'fell' in love with this cold fish called Serafina. She wouldn't even give him a blowjob without being difficult about it... you can give head and keep your pride, girl. I hope you know that.
Only interesing aspect of this book was the possibility of a story about Serafina's sister, Sofia, who was promised to Danilo. That's something I want to read... now I'm not so excited about Savio's and Adamo's books, because... well... I'm just not. But nothing can be as bad as this one. -
4.5 stars
Remo delivered what he promised. This was so freakin good that it’d probably end up being a reread material.“Your pride will be your downfall,” I said.
“And your fury will be yours.”
“Then we’ll fall together. Isn’t that the beginning of every tragic love story?”
Remo is the perfect psychopath. He’s so my type. What I really liked about his character is the balance between being a crazy psychopath and a great lover. In most cases one trait would overshadow the other and it doesn’t end up well. You’d get a crazy psychopath who is a jerk to the heroine and you just can’t really see them as lovers. Or he’d turn into a great lover and forget about being crazy. His evilness would be diluted. In Remo’s case, it was done so well and was so balanced. He loved Fina so hard and he was still a crazy psychopath without his evilness being diluted. I was impressed.
Fina was the perfect heroine for him. That girl would take her pride to her grave. She surprised me in the best way. The way she stood up for herself and refused to give him the satisfaction of watching her break. She’s just the kind of heroine he deserves and the kind of heroine I love to read about in dark romances. Like give him hell girl I’m cheering for you. Also, she was the one who fought and sacrificed so much for them and I was just so proud of her.“Whatever’s in there, it’s yours. Whatever love I’m capable of, it’s yours too.”
She cupped my face, her eyes fierce, almost brutal in their intensity. “You are beyond redemption, Remo,” she whispered, and I smiled bitterly because I knew it.
She shook her head. “But so am I because even free to do as I please, I choose you. I’m no angel. An angel wouldn’t love a man like you, but I do. I love you.”
I loved the way things developed. There was no dull moment with these two. I loved that despite being in a captor/captive situation those two were equal. Despite being a captive she was the only one who could bring Remo to his knees. Remo gave her wings and she freakin flew. Both of them would go to extreme measures to protect those who they care about. I mean those two were great alone, but spectacular together. I loved them so much. -
I gave it one star because you can't review without giving stars. However, this book was the worse book from this author. An author who keeps dissapointing me more with each book. The H here is very brutal. How do we know it?? Because the author keeps telling us that. Over and over and over. You can't read two sentences without it being mentioned. Fina is a weak character, who spent the entire book moaning about the fact that her parents didn't let her wear her hair the way she wanted or walking on the grass without shoes!! Oh my god, how tragic was her life. Granted, reilly's heroines are all pathetic, except for val and gianna, but this one takes the cake. Especially since she is the only one who had a happy childhood and was treated like a princess by everyone.
Everyone blamed dante for torturing remo ! I was baffled bc to his knowledge , this man kidnapped and raped his niece! Yeah, as a romantic gesture , he sended them the sheets with her virginal blood on them! Pretty good hero , right? Anyway, they all believed that she was raped because fina didn't told them the truth. Well, ahe tried it once with her mom and brother , but didn't put much effort into it. Maybe because if she would've told them the truth she couldn't have been able to play the victim role! And she loved to play the victim.
I don't see their marriage surviving, i've never felt any love between them. The author really forced herself to make them seem like an in love couple but failed miserably. Their "love" can only be described as stockholm syndrome at his best. She betrayed her family so i think she will betray him too.
The only character i loved loved in this book - except dante of course- was danilo. I really hope he won't treat Sofia bad. Because if i could make excuses for dante , because he and carla were happy and she didn't betrayed him, i won't forgive danilo for treating Sofia bad for pining for a weak, spineless whore who betrayed him with the first available man. For a woman who stays with a man who wants to kill her family, even though it's thanks to dante that he is alive. Yet he spends 95% of the last chapters saying he wants to kill dante. I didn't believed this author could have worse characters than the scuderi sisters or luca, but , for once, she proved me wrong! Before this book i couldn't decide which heroes i dislike most . -
Ummm this is definitely my favorite of the series. SO FREAKING GOOOOOOOD!!!! Remo is definitely an anti-hero. He's not a good guy and the Copa of the Camorra. He doesn't care about anyone beyond his family and will do anything to get revenge. So he decides to kidnap the bride at the wedding of someone from a rival mafia. And it's a captive/captor romance! Serafina and Remo end up falling for each other as she's kept in his home and it's so good. This also had all of the mafia content my dark heart loves. There were multiple moments in this book I was freaking out during and I had no idea what direction it as going to go. I loved the connection to their family each character had and how they grew into different people throughout the book. I can't wait to continue on with this series!
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I refused to continue reading after the 10th chapter!
To see a great character like Remo being reduced to a pussy whipped, instalust sucker, that submits to a teen air head virgin!!!
Simply doesn't make sense And I'm out... -
Full review:
Cora Reilly's highly anticipated third installment in the Camorra Chronicles is a jaw-dropping, mind-blowing and awe-inspiring emotional rollercoaster you soon won't forget. It will ruin you for all other Mafia books. Mark my words! Cora's ability to write cruel bad boys with a heart is hands down unsurpassed. This story is fast paced and has a well-developed, character-driven plot full of angsty twists and turns you didn't see coming. Enemies to lovers is one of my absolute favorite romace tropes, especially if there is a forbidden aspect - as in this particular case the bitter feud between two opposing Mafia clans.
Remo Falcone is ruling over Las Vegas with an iron fist. When the Outfit breaches his territory and attacts him and his brothers he promises retaliation. The opportunity for payback arises when he kidnaps Dante Cavallaro's niece Serafina on her wedding day. She is supposed to marry a high-ranked Outfit member and become an obedient wife and caring mother. Females like her are supposed to enter marriage pure and chaste. What better way to hurt Dante and the Outfit than breaking the one innocent person they were supposed to protect? But Remo will soon realise that Serafina is not an easy prey. She is smart and very perceptive and not easily intimidated by his threats and mind games. Both didn't expect to feel this unexplicable strong pull towards each other fueled by irresistable need and voracious longing. Will Remo still stick to his plan or is this beautiful blonde angel going to be the one to bring him to his knees? Who is going to be the winner in this twisted game of chess? Is a victory without any sacrifices even possible?
Remo and Serafina are two very complex, multi-facetted and intriguing characters who will make you fall madly and irrevocably in love with their gripping and captivating story. They are without a doubt the most compelling characters Cora has ever written. There is so much more to these two than meets the eye. With every new layer of their personalities being revealed I felt a deeper emotional connection to them.
Remo is a cold, ruthless man who doesn't show any mercy to his enemies and enjoys making them suffer. He is a brutally handsome monster. But there is this soft side to him when it comes to his brothers and the people he considers family. For them Remo would walk through fire and sacrifice himself without a second thought. If you want to gain his respect you have to show strength and loyalty. He is not a man everybody can easily understand because you can't put him into one category.
Serafina is the Outfit's Iceprincess. Proud, poised and controlled on the outside but playful and kind-hearted on the inside. Fina is strong-willed and courageous. She could easily be Capo if women were allowed this role in the Mafia. I can say with absolutely certainty that she is one of the strongest female leads I've ever come across in a book. I admire Serafina for refusing to be a victim of the Made Men's power plays. I adored her relationship with her caring, loving parents and siblings, especially her twin brother Samuel. These two share a special bond only few people can understand. They would die to protect each other.
There was an instant, undeniable physical attraction between the hero and heroine that both tried to fight with great effort. But when they slowly started to get to know one another better and discover each other's strengths and weaknesses they couldn't prevent feelings to develop. As unwanted as they were, resisting each other was a fruitless venture from the first moment they met.
The message of this story is that something good can be born from an act of brutality and that love can bloom even in the darkest place. As an avid reader I'm always on the quest to find such books that stand out from the rest. The ones that will stay with you forever. Now how am I supposed to move on after this epic read?! I see a major book hangover coming. Thank you dear Cora from the bottom of my heart for giving us the most perfect unconventional love story. I've thoroughly enjoyed being ruined by Remo Falcone and give this amazing book 5+++ stars! -
Disappointing. no chemistry whatsoever!
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English: Twisted Pride was unarguably the most anticipated book of The Camorra Chronicles. The name Remo Falcone spread fear and terror from the moment it was first mentioned. After reading Twisted Loyalties, I was sure that we would find a really cruel, insane, frightening mafia leader with a twisted way of thinking. Even Outfit and Famiglia accept the Camorra as savage, so I was thinking Remo fit that role... until this book. I found a fluffy bear while waiting for a real psychopath. The author kept writing "his cruel smile", "his dark heart" to describe Remo and I kept wondering, "Huh, where?"
Read more of my review:
Türkçe: Twisted Pride tartışmasız The Camorra Chronicles'ın en beklenen kitabıydı. Remo Falcone adı ilk geçtiği andan itibaren korku saçıyordu. Twisted Loyalties'i okuyunca da gerçekten zalim, manyak, çarpık zihin yapısıyla korkutucu bir mafya lideri bulacağımıza emin olmuştum. Outfit ve Famiglia bile Camorra'yı vahşi görürken Remo da rolüne cuk oturuyordu... bu kitaba kadar. Gerçek bir psikopat beklerken pofuduk ayı buldum. Yazar sürekli "zalim gülümsemesi", "karanlık kalbi" derken benim tepkim, "Ha, nerede?" şeklindeydi.
Yorumumun devamı: -
5-Twisted-Stars
Cora mentioned in her Facebook group, that this was her best-written book to date. Well, she wasn’t lying.
This series just seems to get better and better with each book that is released.
Saying I loved this book is not enough. So whatever is more than Love, but yet not quite I'm-Sending-Out-Save-The-Dates-And-Marrying-A-Paperback stage, is where I am with this book.
I was in fictional LUST with Nino's story in
Twisted Emotions, I thought about that book for WEEKS after reading it! I honestly did NOT think I would enjoy Remo's story as much as Nino's.
I know, I never should have doubted Cora.
It's just Twisted Emotions was on such a high pedestal to me, then here comes Mr. Remo Falcone in all of his TWISTED GLORY and bulldozing that single seated pedestal, only to replace it with a two-seater for him and my Nino.
Serafina shocked the crap out of me with her total badassness. The ice-princess has a spine of steel and a sharp tongue. Cora wrote the PERFECT heroine for this story.
I loved Serafina and Remo's interactions throughout the book. There were quite a few scenes that had me busting a gut laughing at their antics.
Remo was more than I could have imagined with his twisted mind. There was just so much more to him than what we've already seen in previous books. Cora could not have written his story any better than what we were given.
Twisted Pride was packed in chemistry, action, angst, humour and most of all loyalty.
Cora showed us so many different sides to her characters in this book. We got to see EVERYONE in a different light/setting and I swear I fell more in love with those Falcone brothers because of it. Serafina and Remo's story was EXPLOSIVE. From beginning to end, I was so engrossed in their story. I cannot wait for the next book (3.5 Nino & Kiara).
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i don’t think anyone is surprised 😍
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A wise man once said, 'Cora wrote Remo as an apology for writing Luca.'
I've never heard truer words. -
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable! I haven’t read the previous two books in the series and while I never felt lost or anything, there were some dots that felt like it would’ve been better if I had connected them prior to this story. Not too bad though! I liked the characters, I liked the captivity theme, I also enjoy the occasional mob boss story. My biggest gripe is with the pacing. I felt like this had a few ebbs and then a huge flow in the last 10ish%. I still liked it and I got a good enough ending to be satisfied in the end — so that’s a plus! Random note here... but the cover oddly makes me think of SJP in Hocus Pocus 🙈🤣
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Serafina and Remo’s story. Serafina is about to get married in an arranged marriage that she has known about for years. Remo finds out about the wedding and sees an opening to kidnap Serafina and make her rival mob boss uncle exchange her for his second hand man. She knows all about Remo and fights him all along the way while he starts breaking down her ice princess walls and feelings start to develop. There is some family and mob drama, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Serafina and Remo’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. It was slow in some parts and then super fast in others. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: No, they have a hate-to-love type thing going on
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Remo. I liked him and how he allowed her to make her own choices.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Serafina. I liked her strength and how she cared for her family.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: Technically yes, but really no
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place for the couple and what I would call a HEA ending
Safety: This one is probably either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences -
4 Crazy Fuckery Stars ⭐
There are anti heroes and then there are fucked up individuals like Remo Falcone. I have to admit that at no point during Twisted Pride did I love the depraved Capo, but I did admire his loyalty and love for his brothers and any person within his 'family' circle. That was his only redeemable quality.
Love can bloom in the darkest place, and ours did wildly, freely, untamable.
Kidnapping a mafia princess on the day of her wedding sends a solid message. Never fuck with ones family. It's a sin never forgiven or forgotten, and payback is tenfold. Serafina is merely a pawn in a war waged by Remo Falcone. Except he hadn't banked on her ability or strength to bring him to his knees.
“You should end your life, take the easy way out, because nobody will come to save you. And I won’t stop until I’ve broken you, body and soul.”
Now a prisoner in Las Vegas, Serafina expected rape and torture. But what she receives is an insight into a twisted mind and the lengths her captor will go to for the safety of his loved ones. And a long the way, she's quickly forgetting why she shouldn't be there.
“Your pride will be your downfall,” I said.
“And your fury will be yours.”
“Then we’ll fall together. Isn’t that the beginning of every tragic love story?”
It is a classic tale of Stockholm Syndrome or two individuals that understand the requirements of this life? Her kidnapping was initially a message, but the shift of attraction and admiration blurs dangerous lines. Remo has no intentions of keeping Serafina, but she can no longer return to her old life either.
He sunk all the way into me, and then he paused as I shivered under the force of the intrusion. His dark eyes said what I’d known all along.
He possessed me. He owned me.
I was the queen.
He was the king.
Checkmate.
This story was gritty, disturbing and everything it should have been. I admire this author for not romanticising mafia life. The famiglia is feared and revered for a reason. Remo was perfectly sadistic and unhinged, and his devotion to his family was everything. He couldn't have chosen a better queen if he tried. -
Okay, hear me out.
The thing with high expectations is that they let you down. I came to twisted pride knowing I’d love Remo, and Remo I loved, but it took me a while to finish this book, mainly because kidnapping trope gets repetitive after a few of the same books, and although this one was different in a way (obviously, Remo’s way was nothing if not original, because he’s one of a kind 😍) got a bit boring towards 40%? (I asked forgiveness to myself for even thinking this, that’s how committed I was to love this book) but after a while I jumped back in again and at 60% TP and me were besties again.
Anyway, I loved psycopath Remo and sweet and stubborn Serafina, they were soooo perfect together, and the crumbs we got for Kiara and Nino? OMG ❤️
I loved all the family interactions, and I’m kind of sad that Adamo’s and Savio’s books are not going to be good according to everybody who has read this series, because they’re such lovable and cute side characters 🥺
Now I’m gonna book my tattoo appointment for broken wings in my back, bye 👀 -
3 STARS
Pride was the only weapon I had, and I would hold on to it until the very end. 
Mafia romance is my jam. The darker, the better. And when I first saw the blurb to this story, I knew this had to be my first Cora Reilly book.
After finishing, I'll admit I have very conflicting emotions about how I feel about it. On the one hand, I struggled to connect to the heroine and the way she was painted to be so naive and complacent in the beginning. On the other hand, the more I read, the more connected I felt to the story.
What begins as a twisted game of revenge soon begins to turn into something more. Remo and Serafina both come from the same world but they live on opposite sides of it. Where Serafina has been sheltered, Remo has seem the depths of human depravity and violence. So much so, that it's twisted and tainted him into the Capo that he is today. The dynamic between them was a delicious one, however. I loved the push and pull of their unwanted attraction. Serbian should be a means to an end to a man like Remo. He doesn't care about anything but his family. But there's something about her that reaches into the hidden depths of him. It's not instant. It's a slow burn of realization as he discovers that Serafina isn't the sheltered and soft beauty that she seems. That she's got a core of strength and a pride beneath that delicate exterior. That he yearns to break her in all ways possible.
Now here is also where I struggled with the book; the characterization. It soon became apparent that I did myself a great disservice by reading this book without reading the others. There's clearly a continuing story arc that follows the brothers, and even though the author attempts to give the reader bits and pieces, it still felt like I was missing huge chunks of their backstory. The incredible amount of redundant descriptions of Remo were a huge irritant for me. I lost count of the amount of times that I read about his cruel smile, cold voice and brutal acts. I'm not even kidding. The word cruel is used over 60 times in the book to describe either his smile, his eyes, or his general being. And yes, I counted.
Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed Remo's dark depravity. But I also got tired of constantly being reminded of it. It felt like being slapped in the face with his personality. I get it! He's cruel and brutal. Let his actions and behavior be the reminder. Not his description.
Aside from that, I really did enjoy the story. It was action-packed, gritty, and after the 30% mark, a complete page turner for me. And while I struggled with some parts, I still liked it enough to know I want to read the rest of this series. I definitely need Adamo's story soon! That was a secondary character that I couldn't get enough of.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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