Machiavellian by Bella by Bella Di Corte proved to be a delicious treat. I am a huge fan of Mafia romances and I love reading about this world. The fight for territory, the consequences for betrayal, and the thirst for vengeance. In reality, I would not want to live in such a world, but on paper and in my fantasy it’s all good and as long as it remains that way.
Now that being said, this story hit all the right spots for me. I will not be going into what the story is about as I believe readers need to go into it as blind as possible. However, I will say this much Machiavellian is a story of revenge, redemption, forgiveness, healing, love and reinvention.
Mariposa and Capo Macchiavello both captured my heart. He with his wounded and fractured soul and she with her brave, proud and selfless persona. He was the wolf who had his heart set on vengeance and she the pretty and homeless butterfly who had suffered at the hands of those meant to protect her. His thirst for revenge took him on the road destined for destruction but her love and loyalty led him on the path to life. They brought out the best in each other and in the process discovered the power and beauty of love.
This was my first experience with the author, and it will not be my last. I enjoyed her writing, which I found engaging. This was one of those books which can be read in one sitting if you have nothing pressing to do. I had a wonderful time in the world the author created. The world may not have been unique but I enjoyed the way she portrayed her characters, her vivid descriptions which made it easy to visualise every occasion and reactions. There were some tense and suspenseful moments, which had me anxious about the characters.
The story evoked an array of emotions. It broke my heart to see the hell Mariposa went through from such an early age. Despite being considered the Pretty Boy Prince in the mafia world he would taste the bitter pill of betrayal from those closest to him. The story had its share of sadness, which was balanced out with feel good moments. It ended on a fitting note and left me contented and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Machiavellian was a wonderful start to Gangs of New York series. A satisfying read and one I would recommend to fans of Mafia romance.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading