God of War

Blurb

I fell for the villain.

It happened back when I was a clueless girl.

But he ruthlessly broke my heart and trapped it in a jar.

Since then, I’ve sworn to hate him to the end of my days.

Eli King might be a savage devil, but I’m out of his way. And league.

That is until I wake up in a hospital and find him holding my hand.

He tells me the words that change my life forever.

“We got married two years ago, Mrs. King.”

So I set out to investigate how I landed myself into this marriage.

Turns out, my memories are darker than my present.

I thought I was ready for the hurricane.

I thought I could handle his soulless eyes and cold shoulder.

I thought wrong.

Nothing can stop my husband.

Not the secrets surrounding us.

Not the hatred between us.

Not even me.

Tropes/Triggers

DARK ROMANCE, MORALLY DARK MC / ANTI-HERO, PUSH & PULL, GRUMPY x SUNSHINE, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DEPRESSION / ANXIETY, DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA, SUICIDE ATTEMPT, PAST TRAUMA, VIOLENCE , DEFLOWERING, “NECKLACE”, OPPOSITES ATTRACT, SMUT 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

My Review 

When I picked up GOW, I was bracing myself for another emotionally intense ride, much like its predecessors. Rina had mentioned this book had a different vibe—less dark, more focused on mental health struggles. And indeed, it does take a different route, one that I found both refreshing and slightly disappointing.

While I enjoyed the shift in focus to Ava's mental health, I couldn't help but miss the emotional intensity that had me in tears with the previous books. This installment didn't quite hit the same emotional highs; it was paced differently, steering mostly clear of the tear-jerking moments I love in a these books. But that’s not to say it wasn’t good—it just took a different approach. The previous book also focused heavily on mental health, and it was delivered far better, evoking an almost embarrassing amount of tears from me. Maybe it was because Ava didn’t grow on me the way Bran and Nico did, which left me navigating this story with dry eyes.

Ava, true to form, continued to be a brat with temper tantrums that would rival a spoiled teenage princess. She grated on my nerves for most of the book, though she had moments where she was almost endearing—almost. Eli, on the other hand, surprised me. He wasn’t the villain I expected. While his softer side was a nice change, it also left me a bit let down. I had hoped for a more intense confrontation with his darker aspects.

Now, let’s talk about supporting characters…. Cole Nash—just, why? His animosity towards Eli seemed so petty and intense, and all rooted in old teenage grudges against Eli’s father. These characters are adults now; where’s the maturity? And Ava's clingy, stalkerish sister being portrayed as endearing? Nope. Glad she was mostly absent.

Despite these negatives, let’s give credit where it’s due. I still loved this book even if it wasn’t perfect. Ava’s journey towards healing was tough, and Eli’s unwavering support was admirable. His patience with Ava was saint-like, and his willingness to sacrifice everything for her well-being was touching. While he wasn’t perfect, his motivations were clear, and he embodied the fierce loyalty typical of the King men, meaning he would do anything for his wife.

Speaking of King men, was Landon always this cocky? Lol, I almost forgot how insufferable his ego can be, yet in an entertaining way. I missed those troublemakers, including him, Creighton and Jeremy as well. They added a much-needed spark to the story.

In conclusion, while GOW didn’t reach the emotional heights of its predecessors, it was still a compelling read. Ava’s struggles and Eli’s devotion made for a touching story. I’m sad to see this series end. I’ve been with these characters since Levi King first graced us with his presence, and I wouldn’t change a thing about the journey.

As the conclusion of the series, the last book in this universe (so far?), I expected more bang—a bit more intense ending. While I absolutely loved the series, this final installment felt a bit anticlimactic. 

So, what’s next? For some reason, I feel a strong urge to revisit Cruel King. It’s been a while since I spent time with the original crew, although this time I might skip some of my least favorite books.