I was this close to my first 5 Star 2024! - Can't complain though, this was a blast.

Normally, I steer clear of Mafia Romances, they're just not to my taste at all and as per ush I did not read the blurb. The cover got me real good this time. So, if I had even an inclination that this had "families" and territories and all the hallmarks of Mafia except (earth style) drugs - I'd have passed on it so fast. Thank Mandalore The Great that I am in essence just a scifi ghost within a human shell - I dove right in and had an amazing time.

Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Normally for romances I force myself to suspend disbelief, namely because well let's face it, it's way more believable that Chutlhu will enter this world in a lovecraftian apocalypse or that a single father is gifted the power of the Grim Reaper but still has to raise his daughter or heck anything is more believable than some FMC and MMC pairings.

But this one, oh boy. This one was so easy to fall into, from the galaxybuilding, the introduction of the universe's "royal/mafia system" to planets with mineral values that could shape the next thousand years, The whole story was as good as a dark saber in hand. I refused to give up reading it without a good toussle (me vs exhaustion ).

Character Development/Favorite Character:
Temper has a fire in her belly, a chip on her shoulder and a lifetime of a negative voice in her head in the form of her mother telling her to be less. She jumps the gun when she's not brandishing it and she self-sabotages when she's not being brilliant. I love her

My only wish is that I would have loved to experience Arcadio from the horses mouth so to speak. But I accept the fact that dual pov is not always necessary and more often than not, first person POV often sounds like the same person. So we see him through Temper and we see everything and everyone through her POV and that's okay. Still, an Arcadio POV book would tickle me pink. Temper judges him too quickly, too harshly and even she knows it.

Supporting Characters Caro, Micah, Itzel - if I had to hope, I'd hope that the rest of the seriea focuses on each one because Fay really brought out such nuanced characters and said "here...just a little taste."

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene: :
Arcadio and Temper underground cenote then right up to Cult-Town.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “People are the worst. It’s always easier without people. This must be the cult/religious group.” (Temper on, well ... People)
🖤 ““Names are lies we use to distance ourselves. Not just here, everywhere” (Arcadio on self preservation)
🖤 “No one starts out intending to be evil. They think they’re doing right until it calcifies into something else” (Temper if the "Families")
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Plankat Nibarat Flowers
■Banishment Tattoos
■ Phydium
■ Pierce Family Algae
■Blastclast Machine
■Itzel and Caro's Artwork2

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Romance Books by 2025