Stolen Heir (Brutal Birthright, 2) Paperback – August 29, 2023

I've read 4 of the 6 in this series so far (will read the last 2 soon), and I must say Stolen Heir was by far my favorite.I really enjoyed Nessa as a Female Main Character. She's unapologetically kind, soft and girlish. At a time where many FMCs are written as headstrong and "girl boss", it was nice to see a character like Nessa. But I think many of her attributes that others like Riona and the rest of her family and even Mikolaj see as weaknesses were actually strengths. Nessa's kindness and compassion often endears people to her, and allows her to form bonds and relationships that other people wouldn't be able to. I also enjoyed how clever she was with learning the languages. That was in and of itself a form of power as well.I enjoyed Mikolaj. I liked that we knew from the beginning where he was coming from. He helped me understand his frostiness and why he was so aloof and hateful. But over time Nessa's brightness and pureness really chipped away at his darkness. I really enjoyed that Mikolaj, like holding her captive, still protected Nessa in many ways, like when he wouldn't allow any of his men to mess with her. He was very protective of her and it really helped soften him even more in my eyes. I also liked how they had that literature connection between them.Their chemistry very much felt natural and earned. I was really biting my nails waiting to see how they would come together, and when they finally did it was absolutely an explosion that felt worth it. I also enjoyed how Mikolaj wanted it to be Nessa's choice to be with him. He let her go to see if she'd come back to him. He was also patient and wanted to earn the respect of her parents, which I liked as well.If I had to say one thing that I didn't like or that frustrated me, it was how weak the Gallos and Griffins seemed once Mikolaj and the braterstwo had kidnapped Nessa. I guess I was expecting a bigger fight on their end.... like they went weeks without finding Nessa, lol. I didn't understand why they didn't just follow Mikolaj to his home or attack his home.But that was just me being nitpicky. Overall, this book was excellent and the writing was great as well. I'm a big fan of Sophie's writing. Nothing will ever top There Are No Saints for me, but I've loved Stolen Heir and Grimstone as well. Brutal Prince, Savage Lover and Bloody Heart are also enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book.

I really enjoyed Miko and Nessa’s story. This is a Mafia romance. Enemies to lovers. This book was hard to put down. I can’t wait to get to the next one

I loved the slow burn & increasing romance within this story. So beautifully done and loved the ode to beauty and the beast as it was always my favorite fairytale. Will def reread in the future

She’s a piece of music that gets stuck in your head, repeating over and over. The more you hear it, the more it lodges in your brain.star rating: 3.95spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️Mafia Meets Beauty And The Beast Meets The Mythology of Hades and PersephoneI was death, and she was life. I thought I’d had stolen her, brought her down to the underworld. All the while she was waking me up. Stirring the blood in my veins. Breathing air into my lungs.The love was dark, with sparks of lightA perfect match for the setting of the story.There was something to be said about Mikolaj and Nessa finding their footsteps.The push and pull, light versus dark, the love and desire masquerading as fear and hatred.This story was beautifully told. Deserving of a standing ovation.Love is the one thing you can’t steal. You can’t create it, either. It either exists or it doesn’t. And if it exists, you can’t take it by force.“I was a corpse when I met you, Nessa, No breath. No heart. No life. I felt nothing. I cared about nothing. Then I saw you, and you woke me up inside. I was such a fool at first. I was so numb that I thought that spark must be hatred. If I was a normal person, I would have realized it was love. Love at first sight. From the second I laid eyes on you.I stole you, Nessa. And you stole my heart. It’s yours forever. I couldn’t take it back if I wanted to.”

This series keeps me hooked!This one is more of a slow burn, packed with angst and tension.Nessa seems like a fragile FMC, but her character development throughout the book is so well executed.Miko is blinded by revenge, seeing him being brought back to life by Nessa is beautiful and healing.This book is emotional, beautiful, and has the right amount of spice!I can't wait to read the next book.

This book took me off guard. The plot was well though out and romantic. I liked how the POVs moved back and forth, much like their dance. One of my favorite dark romances ever!

The suspense! Couldn't put it down! Didnt except that outvome!! Was really thinking he was gona kill her or a family member. So glad I ran into the first book. Now aboUt to go read about Nero and camilla!! Easy and enjoyable read. Love the mobsters!

mafia-enemies to lovers-forced proximity-KidnappingHey, this is the second book in the series, and it's a wild emotional ride! You'll go back and forth on Miko – one minute you hate him, the next you love him – but you'll also feel for him and the walls he's built. The self-discovery for both main characters is beautifully written. Nessa's family treated her like fragile glass, but nobody really knew her. I loved how she grew, and how Miko saw her, both before and after her growth. Just a heads-up: it does touch on some dark stuff, so check your trigger warning