Ruthless Princess brings us the next generation of the cosa nostra. If you haven't read the OG books (the Eagle Elite series), its totally fine. These are about their kids, so the parents are present, but you don't need to know their story to understand Serena, Junior, Asher, Izzy, and the rest of the cousins.
I will say this about the Eagle Elite crew: they all had rough childhoods as part of the mafia and I never imagined they would put their kids in this position. But, that is me trying to turn the characters into something they aren't. While Nixon, Chase, Tex, and Phoenix would never abuse their kids, they will include them in the life. They do expose them to what will be their empire. They train them to be lethal. So, this isn't a white washed, "we were mafia but we are gonna go straight and get out of the game" mafia story. Its gritty and violent. If you want a story of a former mafia family that is now gone straight, find another series. But, I think you will be missing out on a brilliant story.
Ruthless Princess belongs to Serena and Junior. They were secret lovers in high school, but they were breaking the family rules. Then it ended and now they loathe each other with the fire of a thousand burning suns. But also, still hot for each other. Its a complicated relationship. But, they do have to work together to protect the family. They need to find out of the De Lange children survived and are out for revenge. This leads to dead bodies, fierce beatings, hot, dirty sex, and a death of a loved one. Its brutal-physically and emotionally. Honestly, each page was like turning the corner in a haunted house-was it going to be a horror show or have you made it out alive? I found myself furiously flipping pages because I couldn't walk away from this story.
Listen, you can find spoilers on this book for sure. However, I beg you not to. The story is violent, but there isn't anything that might be a trigger (unless murder is your trigger. Then, you know, pass). Go in blind. Ruthless Princess is a roller coaster in the dark that has missing pieces of track throughout. You can't see when they are coming and you never expected it. Once you're in, there is no way out. Welcome to the mafia version of the Hotel California with Ruthless Princess!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: yes. so many tears.
- Trope: friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, mafia
- Triggers: none (obviously, lots of violence)
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no; you are left excited for the rest of the couples though!
- HEA: yes
Carter Reed by Tijan, Killing Sarai by JA Redmerski, Menace/Grievous by JM Darhower...then you will probably like Ruthless Princess!
See full review on The Book Disciple