absolutely in love with all of sophie wu’s books and this definitely hit the mark! I absolutely love this series and the characters are just so much fun to follow along

The best ending to one of the best, most fun series! The characters were lovable and fun, the plot and pacing were absolutely perfect, and it solidified its place as one of my favorite series to binge! I’m so sad that this series is over now because it was SO fun and I haven’t read anything like this series before. Sophie Lark’s writing is some of my favorite and I can’t wait to read more books from her in the future because her writing voice is incredible!

*Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.*

She was a temptation he couldn't resist…

Sebastian Gallo couldn't believe it when he saw her being stuffed into a trunk: Yelena Yenina, the only daughter of the most vicious Bratva boss in Chicago. The Bratva hate Sebastian's family—in fact, they burned his uncle alive.

He should have just left Yelena to her fate. But she fought like a Valkyrie—gorgeous, ferocious, and unbreakable. Sebastian had to save her, and after feeling the electricity between them, he knows he has to make her his, too.

Yelena is determined to never submit to a man. But she's also growing tired of being used as her father's pawn. And as their families wage a vicious battle across the city, making moves and vowing vengeance, Sebastian decides he'll fight for her heart and freedom, whatever it takes.

He knows they're meant to be together.

And he'll push her to her limits to prove it.

Great ending to the serious… I loved the twists and turns this book took. Didn’t see it coming honestly.

It pains me to say this but I felt quite disappointed with the final book of this series.
I had such high hopes after reading the previous book about Raylan and Riona, unfortunately this one left me wanting for so much more.

I was really curious about Seb’s story right from the beginning when his dream as a basketball player was crushed early on because of that incident.
It’s pretty interesting to see another side of Sebastian since he was always portrayed as the kind-hearted boy.

Sebastian meet Yelena, they do have some sweet and tender moments with each other but I think it wasn’t really enough to get me thoroughly invested with the couple. I wish there’s more interaction between them throughout the story.

Another thing I didn’t like in this book is how the characters from the previous books seems to changed. I felt really disappointed with how Dante reacted with the whole thing as well as the Griffin family. I get that the Griffin is trying to clean themselves up but the Gallo are their in-laws I thought they would’ve done something…..

The ending also ends rather abruptly, everything happened too fast.
Although, I was intrigued with the epilogue at the very end showing the next series is gonna be about their children.

While I didn’t really like this one, overall this whole series is a pretty enjoyable read if you wanted something simple, quick, spicy dark romance.
I’m still excited to see the next spin-off series with the next generation!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: sexual content, gun violence, murder, violence, domestic abuse, emotional abuse

Sebastian is all grown up and not just the "nice" Gallo brother anymore...

Yelena Yenina beautiful daughter of the Russian bratva and one of the only mafia family's to not get a piece of this new power dynamic that is forming from the series. We have a truce amongst the Italian and Irish with tentative allyship with the Polish mafia...so what about the Russians?!?! Well, they have been getting the shit end of the stick for most of the series, but with a new boss leading the bratva, Yelena's father he isn't going to stand for it any longer.

Too bad when daddy Yenina forces his daughter (that he severely mistreats and underestimates) to make Sebastian Gallo develop feelings her. He picked the wrong mafia target. Sebastian though may not have wanted to live the mafioso life and had dreams and the talent to be a basketball star, realizes he is going to have the be the next head of the Gallo family. His feelings for Yelena are very real and she isn't having to fake hers for Sebastian for long. Seb actually sees Yelena for the person she is and not just a pawn in this mafia chess game.

When secrets are finally revealed and Yelena's happily ever after seems lost, she chooses love over family (they sucked anyway) and does what is needed to keep something precious she never though she could find. Seb must put his pride aside, step into the role as head of the family, or lose everything.

This book wound up being one of my favorites in the series.

Pains me to say this but DNF at 65%. I've absolutely loved this series but this book was such a let down, I've attempted to read it 5 different times and each time it sends me into a slump 😭

I have no particular feelings after reading this book. It was okay, I'm not particularly drawn to either of the MC. Dont think this book was for me.

3.5/5

I just don't know what to think. I enjoyed this one but in a roller coaster kinda way. At times I was so into it and then I would lose my interest and then boom, again full on obsessed and then it would let me down a little... I don't really know how to explain this but it definitely left me with mixed feelings. Still, you can't really go wrong with Sophie Lark in my opinion, I always enjoy it anyways.

It was nice to finally get to Sebastian's story. I really wanted him to get his HEA because, of course after seeing him in so many books, I already loved him before even starting this one. I really enjoyed the start of this story with the lies and bit of mystery as you didn't know exactly what would happen (you just knew it would be bad). I am not big on love at first sight but it kept me interested the way this one went. Until they truly got together and I got a lil bored (yeah I'm annoying like that, slow burn lover through and through or I lose interest). But then, BAD things obviously happened, like it was meant to. Not gonna lie, it broke me a little. And I got a bit frustrated that it could have been prevented by a bit communication or like, people not being kind of naive. I get why it happened that way, I truly get it but I would have hoped for honesty or some questions being asked before that point. But I guess, no story with that so.

That being said, after we reached that "bad things happened" point, I was back into full interest mode because, well, things were happening and fast. I would have wished Sebastian got more support from his family. It was already so hard for him and that on top of everything, felt truly unfair for such a close knit family. It made me angry at other characters you know? And I didn't want that. But in the end, I still was captivated by that last part and the ending set-up things for the next series which made me quite intrigued.

All in all, I'm so happy I read Brutal Birthright. Each book was truly enjoyable and I so freaking love Sophie Lark's writing. I will definitely read more of her books!

Thanks to Bloom Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Not my favorite of the series, but also not my least favorite. The romance was overshadowed by the mafia related plot, but I was still invested and I liked how the epilogue set up the Kingmakers series.

Unfortunately the formatting was unreadable for me to read but I do think it I was able to read it I would have enjoyed it.

What a beautiful spicy romance story with great storyline and great characters. Really liked the writing style and the cover is beautiful will definitely read more from this author.

It was bittersweet to read the last book in the Brutal Birthright series. As all her books, I was not able to put it down. I love the new covers, I am not a fan of shirtless men, just want to be able to read books in public sometimes. I have never had a series where past characters still maintain their personalities and also play an essential role in the plot. Sophie Lark has not written anything I have not enjoyed. Sebastian has been on the peripheral in the whole series, he had his dreams crushed and finds himself kind of lost on what his the rest of life will be. Yelena, a Bratva princess has been only valued for how she appears and what type of marriage alliance she will bring. She is used to draw the attention of Sebastian in revenge for the last bosses killing. They are not quite star crossed lovers but something similar. I do enjoy how the story kept you on your toes, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Great read, I look forward to reading more from this author. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5892880967

This is one of her best works I’ve read from her so far and I can’t wait to read more of her works in the coming future

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

as always, miss sophie lark is the queen and can do no wrong. i have loved every single one of her books and this was such a bittersweet one to read. i'm so sad that the series is over and you can 100% believe i will be rereading it.

I've read another book in this series and just loved it, and was sucked in from the beginning. This one was harder for me to get into but I did still enjoy the read and the romance. Love when there's a bit of mafia in there!

I loved this ending to the Brutal Birthright series. Great action scenes. I was waiting for Sebastian’s story, and Sophie lark delivered. Yelena starts out gentle and ends being a cutthroat woman and I loved it!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of Heavy Crown.
I really enjoyed this whole series.

*4.5

This might be one of my favorites in the series. It was a good way to end it, and I liked Yelena and Sebastian. I wasn't expecting a lot of the twists and I had a great time.