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marlobo's review
2.0
Perhaps it was at an over-sizing of the expectations, but this volume was pretty disappointing, this episode of the story generated nothing to me.
In the whole series I come to find that there's a great asepsy in the narrative, perhaps the intention is highlighting even more the recounted atrocities but didn't work for me, to my eyes the result it's an aloofness in the narration that has made difficult my empathy with the characters and feelings at stake.
Horses for courses, right?
In the whole series I come to find that there's a great asepsy in the narrative, perhaps the intention is highlighting even more the recounted atrocities but didn't work for me, to my eyes the result it's an aloofness in the narration that has made difficult my empathy with the characters and feelings at stake.
Horses for courses, right?
nicola949's review
5.0
After reading Volume 1 and attempting to provide a rating/review for that volume, I have come to the conclusion that the story is best considered in its entirety.
When the 5 volumes are read back-to-back, it is an immersing journey into the dark world inhabited by Stefano and Silvio. There is incredible emotional depth to the characters and the story is intriguing. Very compelling reading.
4.5 stars
When the 5 volumes are read back-to-back, it is an immersing journey into the dark world inhabited by Stefano and Silvio. There is incredible emotional depth to the characters and the story is intriguing. Very compelling reading.
4.5 stars
working_title's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
leahkarge's review
4.0
Favorite Quotes:
Above all, he wasn’t hurting any longer; he could actually breathe and move too, feel alive and not as brittle and scared as he had been. Silvio brought it back, that huge lesson. He’d survived, they both had, and as short and nasty as life was, it would be as worthwhile as they could make it.
(91%, Stefano)
Silvio glanced at him. “Was it as big a deal as you thought?”
Stefano backtracked over their conversation—he’d rather have waded through molasses than remember right now what exactly they’d said. Oh. Yes. About that. “What if it does mean something?”
Silvio smirked, as if pleased that Stefano had remembered. “Then we’re both fucked.”
No kidding.
(99%, Silvio & Stefano)
Above all, he wasn’t hurting any longer; he could actually breathe and move too, feel alive and not as brittle and scared as he had been. Silvio brought it back, that huge lesson. He’d survived, they both had, and as short and nasty as life was, it would be as worthwhile as they could make it.
(91%, Stefano)
Silvio glanced at him. “Was it as big a deal as you thought?”
Stefano backtracked over their conversation—he’d rather have waded through molasses than remember right now what exactly they’d said. Oh. Yes. About that. “What if it does mean something?”
Silvio smirked, as if pleased that Stefano had remembered. “Then we’re both fucked.”
No kidding.
(99%, Silvio & Stefano)
tankytoon's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A strong follow-up to the series.
mindforbooks's review
4.0
So the shit really hits the fan in Volume 4 and I have to say I was grateful that Silvio and Franco were off page together. What I would of liked though is Silvio's POV for the jobs that he and Franco carried out. Seems I like mindless violence. See Aleksandr Voinov is helping me learn all sorts of interesting things about myself.
Really starting to get a better understanding of Silvio in this and I've got to say I'm lost for Stefano now, he does not make excuses and knows his weaknesses and he does not blame Silvio for how he makes him feel which so often happens. I feel really badly for Donata, would of been so much easier if Voinov had of written her as a bitch but I know it would of been easier to dismiss her then and that's not what he was going for.
“Men kill you, but women eviscerate you first.”
It's all a bit of a mess at the end but we do get what we have been ever so patiently waiting for. NOOKY!! Most satisfying it was too!!
Really starting to get a better understanding of Silvio in this and I've got to say I'm lost for Stefano now, he does not make excuses and knows his weaknesses and he does not blame Silvio for how he makes him feel which so often happens. I feel really badly for Donata, would of been so much easier if Voinov had of written her as a bitch but I know it would of been easier to dismiss her then and that's not what he was going for.
“Men kill you, but women eviscerate you first.”
It's all a bit of a mess at the end but we do get what we have been ever so patiently waiting for. NOOKY!! Most satisfying it was too!!
dc7's review
5.0
There are numerous editions of these books, all containing different chapters, the edition I read contained:
- Dark Temptation
- Dark Hunter
- Dark Frost
The romance between Silvio and Stefano really takes off in here. There is yet another character (Sebastiano) who gets a POV which I wasn't too fond of as I prefer to be told from only one or two POVs. Nevertheless it's clear we're heading toward the grand finale in the next volume.
- Dark Temptation
- Dark Hunter
- Dark Frost
The romance between Silvio and Stefano really takes off in here. There is yet another character (Sebastiano) who gets a POV which I wasn't too fond of as I prefer to be told from only one or two POVs. Nevertheless it's clear we're heading toward the grand finale in the next volume.
lauraadriana78's review
4.0
Is it just me, or do we agree that Puccinni would have been ALL OVER Silvio and Stefano? Because HOLY Italian HIGH DRAMA this a fucking OPERA!
This fourth 'aria' of Dark Soul was a bit less all consuming for me than the first three. Not that it was any less awesome, not at all. Just the turn in the story put me in a space where only knowing IT ALL can make it okay at this point. Which only just reaffirms that this arc rocks.
Dark Rival I
In this scene Stefano is back at the table with the capos. Things have come to a head with the Russians and Stefano's strike must show once and for all just how much force he can unleash when his "Family" is fucked with. These little bits of Cosa Nostra machinations are so satisfying for me. They make the story bigger, almost so that it grows around Stefano and Silvio, and we can see the men they have to be. It makes what is happening between them that much better, it's so primal and we can understand where it comes from. These men live like they love, all instinct.
Silvio is out with Franco delivering the strike to the Russians, and it is all to clear to Stefano that once the deed is done there will be no reason for Silvio to stay with him any longer. Not sitting well with Stefano that. Stefano knows too well that he is reaching a point in his need for Silvio that will begin to tear down the walls that he has built around his life. Not the least of which is Donata his wife who he really loves.
Dark Rival II
Silvio delivers for Stefano with the Russians, he's ruthless and dramatic, and put a hurt on the Russians the likes of which they could not forget.
So there it is the end of their arrangement and Stefano is on the edge of desperate, he does not know how to get closer to Silvio, without busting up his life. But he does not care. Franco is set to leave, he cannot give Silvio what he wants, but he clearly tells Stefano how he can be what Silvio needs.
At the same time Donata, she knows and confronts him. He is reluctant to agree there is someone else, and as much as he hates hurting her, the only thing he can do is keep throwing himself into whatever it is that he has going with Silvio. Silvio still won't show him what he wants. Stefano knows though. Silvio needs to be OWNED completely, unconditionally and PERMANENTLY too many people have walked away.
Dark Temptation
Here is where Stefano finally faces head on where he is with Silvio. Silvio is out cruising looking for that hurt and sex that makes him just fly away, and Stefano comes looking for him. It's enough now.
Stefano has decided. Whatever happens next, it is what it is. Stefano will have Silvio. The rest of the world can burn.
Aaaaaand here is where we are left waiting for No.5....I felt at the end of this installment like I was at the dip before the big dramatic aria soars and where everything comes to a head.
We shall see...I truly hope there are no dramatic plunges off bridges in this story, but I do want some fantastic badass mayhem....Oh and a HAPPY FUCKING ENDING!
This fourth 'aria' of Dark Soul was a bit less all consuming for me than the first three. Not that it was any less awesome, not at all. Just the turn in the story put me in a space where only knowing IT ALL can make it okay at this point. Which only just reaffirms that this arc rocks.
Dark Rival I
In this scene Stefano is back at the table with the capos. Things have come to a head with the Russians and Stefano's strike must show once and for all just how much force he can unleash when his "Family" is fucked with. These little bits of Cosa Nostra machinations are so satisfying for me. They make the story bigger, almost so that it grows around Stefano and Silvio, and we can see the men they have to be. It makes what is happening between them that much better, it's so primal and we can understand where it comes from. These men live like they love, all instinct.
Silvio is out with Franco delivering the strike to the Russians, and it is all to clear to Stefano that once the deed is done there will be no reason for Silvio to stay with him any longer. Not sitting well with Stefano that. Stefano knows too well that he is reaching a point in his need for Silvio that will begin to tear down the walls that he has built around his life. Not the least of which is Donata his wife who he really loves.
Dark Rival II
Silvio delivers for Stefano with the Russians, he's ruthless and dramatic, and put a hurt on the Russians the likes of which they could not forget.
So there it is the end of their arrangement and Stefano is on the edge of desperate, he does not know how to get closer to Silvio, without busting up his life. But he does not care. Franco is set to leave, he cannot give Silvio what he wants, but he clearly tells Stefano how he can be what Silvio needs.
At the same time Donata, she knows and confronts him. He is reluctant to agree there is someone else, and as much as he hates hurting her, the only thing he can do is keep throwing himself into whatever it is that he has going with Silvio. Silvio still won't show him what he wants. Stefano knows though. Silvio needs to be OWNED completely, unconditionally and PERMANENTLY too many people have walked away.
Dark Temptation
Here is where Stefano finally faces head on where he is with Silvio. Silvio is out cruising looking for that hurt and sex that makes him just fly away, and Stefano comes looking for him. It's enough now.
Stefano has decided. Whatever happens next, it is what it is. Stefano will have Silvio. The rest of the world can burn.
Aaaaaand here is where we are left waiting for No.5....I felt at the end of this installment like I was at the dip before the big dramatic aria soars and where everything comes to a head.
We shall see...I truly hope there are no dramatic plunges off bridges in this story, but I do want some fantastic badass mayhem....Oh and a HAPPY FUCKING ENDING!
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