Review: Debase by Rachel Van Dyken
SYNOPSIS:
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken, comes the final book in the Eagle Elite Series and the first new book in the Elite Bratva Brotherhood…
With blood on my hands, I held her.
With death in my soul, I took from her.
With the devil in my heart, I coveted her.
There’re many definitions of Hell.
My list was exhaustive, my definitions tragic.
Tonight I was adding something new to the very top.
Girl number six thirty-two.
She arrived on my birthday, the same day, every year, I play Russian Roullete and pull the trigger.
She was my omen.
My end game.
She made it personal.
And for the first time in my life, I gave in.
A virgin mob boss with no soul.
My name is Andrei Petrov.
They call me the devil.
All I want is for the pain to end.
All she wants is for me to share it.
I am the last remaining heir to a dynasty that should burn in Hell.
And my last wish remains for it to die with me.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
So its been close to 24 hours since I finished this book and I am still at a loss for words. I can’t exactly put into words the peace and closure I felt as we finish the chapter on Eagle Elite while simultaneously opening a new chapter on the Elite Bratva Brotherhood. It is bittersweet to see this series end but also I couldn’t have picked a better character for the book to center around. Oh Andrei, my sweet, dark, Russian prince, I knew you would break me. From the moment you appeared in the series with anger radiating from every pore, I knew you would be my downfall.
I love Andrei, I think its because his darkness calls to my own. I found his struggles, challenges, and hatred relate-able. He dug a hole to wallow in self-deprecation and I found myself wanting to join him. His struggles are far deeper than those of the Italian men. Andrei life wasn’t easy and I found myself having all the fuzzy feels as Andrei and Phoenix bonded over their f*cked-up childhoods. I loved how Luca took in these two misfits and gave them shelter, solace, and a place to call home.
This book has a different feel then the previous books in the mafia series. I think its because as much as I love the violence and mafia madness, Andrei had a lot of issues to work out in his own head. It was much more an internal struggle than an external one. Alice was Andrei’s counter in every single, f*cked-up and demented way. They were two broken halves that made a whole. But d*mn talk about a slow burn! And when they finally came together I teared up. They deserved this, Andrei deserved these tears, d*mnit!
But the real creme-de-la-creme in this book was Rachel’s ability to insert humor into these dark and desperate moments. The best part of the entire book was any moment Andrei was forced into some convoluted group text with the other mafia men. They were absolutely hilarious and I had to stop several times because I couldn’t read from how hard I was laughing. This was pure comedy gold, I would read an entire novel that was just the guys group texting, absolute perfection.
The ending was absolute perfection, I loved watching Andrei come unhinged. I loved the plot twists, and how everything played out and while I will always want more, I think Rachel ended it on a good note. I especially look forward to seeing how Junior and Serena get along as they grow up because the two seem like oil and water right now. Looking forward to more mafia from Rachel, in any form I can get it!
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
