God of Fury (Standard Edition) (Legacy of Gods, 5) (2024)

2.5/5

Not me lowering my rating after three months.. unfortunately, the more I think about this book the more I dislike it.

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Me and Rina Kent have a slightly complicated relationship. I know her books are far from perfect — I honestly hardly ever like them — but it doesn’t change the fact that I will still read them. Unfortunately, her books have some weird chokehold on me and I can’t get away from them. After reading her whole repertoire I feel so connected to her characters and the world she created, that every time she publishes something l read it as soon as I can. I know she wrote a lot books, but all of her characters are connected to each other in some way which makes you also more connected to them and somehow makes you — in some strange, I still don't know what way — enjoy the books more. I know she writes a recycled plot, with a few exceptions, and that's why I was so excited to read about Niko and Bran, because I thought they would be that exception. Did I think right? Partly.

I had a lot of books I was looking forward to reading this year, but this particular one was the one I was the most excited for. I feel like I've been waiting for it for ages — a year and a half, but it felt like millennia. I thought about Niko and Bran every single day. Seriously. Every. Single. Day. After reading Adrian and Lia’s kids books I basically stuck to the series for Niko and Bran. That's why I was pretty sad when I finished it, because I thought it would be five-star material for me, not barely three. Don't get me wrong, they will always be a special couple to me, in my head they lived rent-free for months, but I genuinely though I will be more in love with this book.

But let's stop here and finally get to the main points of this review. Spoilers start here!

Nikolai Sokolov, well, Rina made me — at least most of the time – hate his character. And to think I thought I would love him because he was a carbon copy of my husband Damien Orlov. I honestly still don't know if I like him or not, he had great, amazing and even swoon-worthy scenes, but he also had moments where I was absolutely disgusted by what he did. His first chapter was one of the worst things I've read this year. Sorry, actually almost all of them were, because Nikolai's chapters were one of the most embarrassing things I've read in a long time, and I'd like to say that I'm exaggerating, but I’m not. I wondered if this guy had even finished elementary school, or if Rai and Kyle had paid his teachers to let him pass. I'm sure Rina confused 1 with 4 when she wrote that his average was a 4.15 GPA, because I don’t remember this guy being mentioned studying even once.

I wish I could get inside Rina's brain because she could have written about anything, literally anything, but in the first chapter she decided to write about Niko's five-year-old d*ck, whom he named after his grandfather's nickname for him.

"Kolya Jr. has been an adventurous whor* since he got his first boner at the fresh age of five. It was such a marvelous discovery"

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Can you even imagine a woman naming her kitty? Because I don’t. Why? Because, it’s embarrassing, childish and weird. It was actually the first thing he said in his first chapter. There’s so much to unpack in this sentence. But I don't want to read it again because it hurts my eyes. I'd actually like to include quotes here about how he described his d*ck in this book, but I don't want anyone to lose their sight, so I won't do it. Or you know what? I will, because some people might not believe me.

"Anyway, ever since that boner incident, Kolya has become the slu*ttiest, most adventurous co*ck anyone would ever meet. He’s resourceful, to put it mildly, and a flat-out whor* if we’re being f*cking blunt."

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That quote leads me to the first thing I hated about him. His obsession with his schlong - Mr Kolya Jr. It started with Rina overly describing his five-year-old d*ck and referring to him as "pouty". Which I will never understand, because dedicating two pages to describe a five year old kid getting a boner, is just wrong. And then to Niko, who was either constantly telling everyone about his dick or even talking to his d*ck. At one point in the book he was talking more to his d*ck than to Jeremy. There were times when his chapters started to be bearable, but then suddenly he started talking about his d*ck and they weren't bearable anymore. I'm sorry, I know some people may think it was funny, which I understand, everyone has a different type of humor, but I personally couldn't take seriously an almost twenty-year-old mafia heir who has killed people and will kill even more in the future, and who called his dick Mr. Kola Jr.

His wh*re-ish behavior. I have nothing against people being sexually active, as long as they do it in a healthy way, but I hate when a character in a book is described as a manwh*re who does all kinds of threesomes, foursomes, and even other double-digit combinations. I'm sorry, but a walking STDs is not exactly my type.

Let's just list what he did that I hated. Again.

one He invited people for some orgy after the initiation, and hooked up with some professor. I know it was before they were together, but it was after their first meeting in the woods. I know this may not be an issue for everyone, but it hit differently when Bran confessed at the end that he developed a crush on Niko during the initiation, and the only thing that Niko developed was a lack of erection and a want for an orgy. I know he was confused why his dick was "not working" and he wanted to find the reason, but I hated that.

two He threatened Brandon that if he didn't show up, he would do that. With Bran’s ex.

"NIKOLAI: Be at the below address in twenty minutes or I’ll send you a video of her riding my co*ck."

Sorry, he actually did that.

"I push the door open to be greeted by Clara kneeling between Nikolai’s legs, her hands wrapped around his dick."

What the fuc-

“Jealous? Over you? Not in this lifetime.”
“In that case, should I call Simon to join us? That’s his name, by the way, Simon. He’s gay and loves threesomes. Or maybe you can sit down and watch as I rail him.”

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"I held a coming-out orgy party. Jeremy definitely left that one as early as he possibly could. Kill stayed."

I like Jeremy even more after this, but

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three He made Bran choose between him and Landon. How can you even ask that question?

four The meaning after the nickname "Lotus Flower". I thought it would have a deeper, and some beautiful meaning but as usual — like almost everything in this series - it was connected to Landon King. Shocking. At least Rina didn't come up with another animal related nickname, instead Bran and Niko called each other "baby".

five Niko was the next Rina’s hero who refers to his sexual partners as "holes". Rina needs to break this pattern. It certainly doesn't make them more attractive.

"Last night, not only did I not f*ck my way through multiple holes,”

That’s not even the worst quote.

But, moving on. It's not that his character was completely terrible, he did some great things like my favorite - the lotus flower tattoo, he bought an apartment for them, he quit smoking for Bran, the revenge for Bran that he got with Landon, he also beat up some people for Bran, Russian sentence scene — which sounded pretty much exactly like in the The Maddest Obsession, but was still cute, he was also a good brother to Mia and Maya, and a few good sentences escaped his mouth. I know most of them were just different combinations of quotes from previous books, but they were still swoon-worthy.

“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

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All in all, I still don't know if I like him or want to castrate him, because there's no way his overused di*k doesn't have some kind of disease. His character definitely grown on me at the end, but unfortunately I will never love him as much as I thought I would.

At the end, let's not forget that he also loved vodka, because every Russian loves vodka, right? I hate how stereotypical this was.

Brandon King, my most beloved grumpy golden boy. No one will ever make me hate this man. I've loved him since the moment he threw a whole branch at Niko's face in the first book. I fell in love with him even more when I found out that he is the captain of the lacrosse team, has old money style and wears Prada loafers, is an artist, volunteers at an animal shelter and loves animals, is a good cook, donates to millions of organizations, is a gentleman with a heart of gold and is a sweetheart to everyone except his love interest — at least at the beginning. What can I say, Niko is a lucky man, I’m not surprised he became obsessed with him. How could you not want him, when he is literally a husband material? Rina finally created a lovable hero and I couldn’t be more happier. He's the only character in this series — with Eli and Creigh maybe — who has never done anything embarrassing or questionable from the very beginning, and every time he showed up I just loved him more. I never thought it would be possible, but after finishing this book I love him even more. I’m so incredibly, beyond, over the moon and whatever else happy that he finally found the happiness he very much deserved. He drew the eyes, Niko’s eyes. Finally, after like forever. I love him so much. I’m sorry for the excessive use of the world "love", but I just love Bran. He deserves the whole world.

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I forgot to mention that he was also an amazing brother. He and Landon finally had the relationship they deserved as twins, which made me incredibly happy. I will never love their sibling bond as much as I love Jeremy and Anni’s, but I tear up a little reading their scene at the end.

The relationship. Their relationship started because Niko's d*ck "stopped working" with others, and because of that, he started stalking Bran because he wanted to find out why the said d*ck only did it with him. Such a romantic reason, right? The first few chapters where Bran was still hesitant? Love them, but after that? It was them kissing, then running, then more kissing with more sexual activity, then again running, some random scene, then again sexual scene. Their relationship basically started with lust, and the built up to it happening was just poorly executed, and happened in the 1/6 of the book. Considering it’s a six hundred pages book, at least for me, it happened too soon. I know that after some time Bran wanted their relationship to be purely sexual, but I wanted a plot and some meaningful scenes, not p*rn. I started skipping these scenes because after almost five of them in a row I was tired of them. If Rina had cut out all the smutty scenes, the book would have been half as long. And it's not even about them not being good, some of them were chefs kiss, but Rina really should read more about anal sex, because doing it without any preparation after a two-week break can't be pleasant. Let’s, also not forget about this sentence.

“Why, hello, Straight Brandon’s dick. You look pretty gay to me.”

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At least the book started having some more meaningful scenes after sixty percent. The f*ckfest was over and the book was finally starting to make sense. Or make a little more sense, because it was mostly boring anyway. It probably won't be for a person who only reads this book without the others, but all the scenes from the previous books were repeated here and if it weren't for the last few interesting pages of the book, most of the time nothing new would have happened in this book.

The second half of the book was definitely more enjoyable, and I finally started to like their relationship. They had a rough start, but I really liked how they healed, and fought their demons together. There were also a few scenes that I really wanted to happen in this book and they did. Such as.

The bike scenes? Check.
The lacrosse game scene? Check.
Both of them being possessive? Check.
The almost matching tattoos scene? Check.
The dates? Check.
The revenge? Check.
The apartament instead of abandoned house? Check.
The domestic scenes together? Check.
The rings and the N X B engraved inside?

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Check.

This scene, which lives rent free in my mind.

“You’re a f*cking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers.
“Your nightmare.”
“I hate you.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re f*cking crazy.”
“About you,”

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So yes, they had a lot of good moments, but the first half of the book was unbearable and repetitive for me.

The writing style. Rina will never learn, I swear. Some of the sentences I read here were awful to say the least. And to think that after almost thirty books, almost nothing has changed.

"The beast in me wants to drag out the hidden beast in him and play."

The beast thing again? Can she stop with this madness? They are not freaking werewolves.

"he ji*zzed all over my room."

ji*zzed??

"then nutted in his ass."

Nutted???

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The White Mask. Let's be honest and ask ourselves the real question, did White Mask add anything meaningful to the plot? His presence was barely mentioned and insignificant, so honestly, I didn't even care who he was. Rina so casually dropped his identity and I was like "Well, that’s it?". I'm actually grateful that Rina didn't make Jaden the White Mask. He was, and is too smart to get dragged into this mess. I remember seeing a comment that the White might be Jonathan King and I laughed so hard that I probably woke up the entire neighborhood. People are so unserious with these theories. The worst thing was that this person sounded dead serious. I swear this kind of things you can only see in Rina's Facebook group.

Rina and her weird relationship with women. I don't believe it will ever happen — I just know it won't, and after this book I actually don't know if I want it to happen — but if Rina one day decides to write a Sapphic romance, I will read it as soon as it comes out. Especially if it was a bully or an enemies-to-lovers book. I feel like it could be somewhat okay, because the heroines would finally not be submissive to men, as they pretty much always are in Rina’s books. It's actually kind of sad, but I've noticed that more often than not, when authors who write books exclusively about heterosexual couples decide to write a story with a queer couple, it's a gay couple, not a lesbian one. In Legacy of Gods we literally have two gay couples, and in the entire world that Rina created in her books, five. That’s leave us with zero sapphic relationships. I know only Nikolai and Brandon have their own book, the rest are just barely mentioned side characters, but still. I know that authors have the right to write about any characters they want, but for me, I will repeat myself, it’s just sad. I can’t wait for a day when Rina decides to love women and their relationships, as she has some weird kink of destroying them.

I don't know what else to say, this was my most anticipated book of the year and looking at my rating it's clear how I feel about it. Quite disappointed as I was really ready to give this book five stars. I've only given one such rating to Rina's book, so I finally wanted to change it. Maybe one day I'll read it again and love it more, we'll see. I guess I was too hyped for it and expected too much, which is something I need to stop doing with Rina's books. I'm glad Rina is taking a nine-month break — I think — to write the last book, because her writing a book in about four months is something she should stop doing.

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previous review: all the updates about the book. Had to remove because my review was too long.

GOD OF FURY IS A COMPLETE STANDALONE!
LIVE┃ Legacy of Gods Tree

➜ https://amzn.to/3OTMwnM

This book comes with heavy disclaimers. Please read the author's note if you have any triggers.

the fact that goodreads had to turn reviewing off for this book bc of hom*ophobic review bombing is actually disgusting

PREPARE TO BE SICK OF ME

I fear I may just go insane waiting for this book. I NEED niko x his lotus flower more than I need oxygen atp

➸ 2.75 stars

“i love you, lotus flower, and that means i'll be by your side during all of your battles with your demons. i'll kill them for you if you let me.”

i went into this book with the lowest expectations ever bc miss rk has a habit of ruining her characters in their own books and shocker, she ruined niko’s character for me at the start of the story so i avoided being disappointed. why was landon’s character sm better in this story than his own book?? rk’s mind needs to be studied.

someone pls ban “holes” from rk’s vocabulary im literally begging atp. this book had no right being as long as it was, literally 581 pages of ✨NOTHING✨ 200 pages could have easily been cut out and the story still would’ve gotten across to everyone. the middle section was giving me severe whiplash bc i felt like i was continuously reading the same thing over and over again. brandon made this book so much more bearable for me. after writing so many books i feel like we all thought her writing would have improved by now, but no it still remains absolutely cringy and juvenile. this has got to be the worst series to date, i fear eliava can’t save it atp (i have hope they will tho) i mean she has eight months to write their book so let’s see if she can redeem this series. even tho she’s taking her time to write GOW she will still find a way to f*ck it up 😭

brandon: oh brandon king, you will always be loved by me!! 🧸 he deserves the entire world, but the world doesn’t deserve him. i loved how incredibly loyal he was to everyone around him. his self hate and his internal thoughts hurt me so deeply. i just wanted to give him the biggest hug. he’s just that character you continuously want to tell how proud you are of them. the pride i had when he was finally able to look in the mirror again and finally let himself be happy by freeing himself from his burdens, cryingg that’s my best boy!!

niko: idk how to feel about his character?? if i was brandon i would’ve gotten a restraining order against him. i hate how he knew how important lan was to brandon and he still continuously hurt him and disregarded his feelings, he constantly made him choose between lan and him. i lost so many brain cells every time he talked to his dick and spoke abt it in third person which he called “koya jr” btw (yes his dick has a name) "kolya jr" was practically the third main character with the dumb amounts of monologue there was abt his fkn dick. "you know you're aching for it. bran jr demands a meeting with kolya" PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS. chapter 3 was honestly a tough read bc of how bad and icky it was. why was she sexualising a 5 year old and saying his dick has been an “adventurous whor*” since that age and calling it “pouty” this is not dark romance, it’s straight predatory. omfg and if i have to hear the pet name “baby” ONE MORE TIME i will rip my f*cking hair out. i’m pretty sure niko used it a total of 190+ times.. if it isn’t “lotus flower” i don’t want it.

nikobran: i rly loved the domestic scenes, i needed sm more!! the soft moments in london?? everything. i loved how well they balanced each other out — bran was the only one who could calm niko’s violent tendencies and niko was the one who showed bran what it’s like to be truly loved. bran is so much more complicated compared to the chaotic and straightforward niko which therefore creates a push and pull between them.

killian being the least fav son and son in law sends me. levi’s dislike for him is so valid bc i also hate that man with every fibre in me. glyn still has the personality of a door and is still an unbearable bore, pls free me from her insufferable character. she tried way too hard to pit bran against lan AND IT NEVER WORKED!! they’ve got that unbreakable twin bond you can’t mess with. her sibling relationship w bran n lan is so superficial. lan spoke w his entire chest when he said she was “unnecessary” lmaooo.

the only thing i loved about this book was the sibling relationship and dynamic between lan and brandon my 3 stars are for them ONLY. the love and admiration they have for each other is everything to me 🩷💗💘 lan teaming up with niko to get revenge for what happened to bran 8 years ago just so he can finally live in peace gave me so much serotonin. THE HOSPITAL SCENE?? NOW THAT ONE MADE ME f*ckING SOB, I GOT ALL SOFT N sh*t. THE WAY THEY BONDED IN THAT SCENE WAS EVERYTHING TO ME!! they are truly the best sibling dynamic.

exhibit a: “i’d kill for you, i’d shoot myself if that makes you breathe better without me shadowing you, but i’d never…ever hurt you, bran.”

exhibit b: “i always needed you, idiot. i used that as an excuse to spend time with you because you’d made it your mission to avoid me for the past eight years. i f*cking hated that. you were supposed to be the one who understood me best, but you turned your back on me.”

exhibit c: “i love you, little bro,” he whispers. “i need you to know that. i need you to know you’re the first person i loved unconditionally and always will.”

me:

even tho rk wrote their sibling relationship amazingly im still fuming on how she done mia and maya dirty. why did she ruin their sibling relationship?? for what?? it just confirms she hates women bc eli and creigh also had a good sibling dynamic. rk literally count ur days u weird fkn loser!!! i’m a maya sokolov defender until the day i die. it’s not her fault rk hates powerful women w every fibre in her

overall, i did enjoy this book but it wasn’t amazing. i’m so glad rk is taking the time to write eliava’s book!! she knows people are eagerly anticipating their story so hopefully she does justice to their characters. if i have to read about another spineless virgin heroine tho i will literally kms 😭

➵ 4.25 stars
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈ the dedication “To the ones who scream in silence.”

“𝙈𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙄 𝙖𝙢. 𝙊𝙛 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙊𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

summary:
brandon king is known for being the “golden boy”, the artist, the perfect british boy, except he’s not. it’s just a facade he’s spent a lifetime building up, he built it up so strong even he had trouble seeing through. brandon has a schedule he always follows, well that is until the messiest, most chaotic person to exist also known as nikolai sokolov smashes through brandon’s “perfect” life, and tears down his walls bit by bit.

first of all, this was my second mm romance, and i can now say that i’m obsessed with this genre, it just hits differently in some ways and i’m eating it up every damn time. this book was definitely something else. it was nothing like i thought it was gonna be and i’m so happy it turned out the way it did. rina literally said “hold my beer” and continued to write this masterpiece. now before i get started on the actual book i’d just like to say that i find most of rina kent’s books mid, because the storyline, smut, and characters tend to remind a little bit too much of each other, but they’re still addictive asf nonetheless, and i will continue to scream about her book and her men. but this f*cking book was everything i’ve ever wanted, this book holds a special place in my heart. it was just so deep, heartbreaking, and beautiful and i’ll never shut up about it. nikoxbran is definitely my favorite rina kent couple this far, and i honestly don’t see anyone top them.

me thinking about nikoxbran:

characters:
brandon king / lotus flower
my precious baby branbran. this man healed something inside me istg, i’d give my life for this man. i truly love him with my whole heart, and he deserves the world and more. the only character i’ve ever related this much to before is nesta archeron (from acotar), and by this point, we all know she’s my forever favorite bitch. brandon’s character for me was just incredible, and it’s actually funny to think about the fact that i love him so much when he reminds me so much of myself because i actually hate myself (we aren’t going into this topic now tho lmao). brandon was honestly a f*cking mess on the inside, but on the outside, he looked like this put together, always on time kinda guy, and i love these kinda characters because i myself would’ve never guessed bran’s character was this deep, i knew there was something but i had never in a million years guessed his character would affect me this much. every time i was in bran’s head it was like being in my own, and i cried my heart out while reading his pov, because i just saw so much of myself in him it literally terrified me. and i don’t want to spoil anything but i’ll just say that on the inside he was screaming. he tried to keep up with it but it’s literally impossible. his coping mechanism was following a schedule from morning to night, and then doing the exact same thing the next day. he was so afraid of not being “normal” and being different, which i guess is something we all can relate to, because being different in this world/society is f*cking scary but it’s also badass asf. when that’s said i just want to say it was incredible seeing brandon like this beautiful butterfly just finally folding out its wings and fly, i’m so proud of my baby i could cry. i don’t think y’all understand the cry i let out when i reached the ending and saw him happy. branbran will forever hold a place in my heart. he’s my f*cked up twin. and he got better so that means there’s still hope for the rest of us, so go take care of yourselves ladies and gentlemen (i’m including myself in that statement), and go be happy <3

“𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙.”

nikolai sokolov / yellow mask
niko my violent little golden retriever, gosh this man was such a sweetheart which i know sounds crazy, but the was he just love and adored brandon made me so emotional. not to make this whole review about brandon (it’s very hard not to) but he truly deserves someone to love him like niko does. niko’s head is officially my new favorite place to be, everything was so “simple” it got solved with either violence or kolya (iykyk) to everyone that doesn’t know that’s what he named his dick. now i’m not saying it’s simple but at least he knew how to stop his episodes, or at least keep them at bay. i really appreciated niko’s character because he made it all a little bit lighter when bran’s character was so deep. he was funny, messy, chaotic, spontaneous, a go-with-the-flow kinda guy, and i just absolutely adore him. i need a nikolai sokolov in my life, tbh i think we all need that. niko was pretty much an open book, and not that much different from himself in the other books, still sleeps wired places (except if he’s with bran), still hates clothes, always walks around half naked, and still sends dickpics to the group chat, etc. but we love him exactly as he is, and he wouldn’t be niko without all his amusing traits. and i think i finally found someone who uses the words “f*ck” and “f*cking” as much as myself, i guess niko and i don’t hold up to aaron warner’s standards, but that’s fine he’s the size of a peanut anyways (please don’t kill me).

“𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙨.”

⎯ as i said nikoxbran is my new obsession. i love them so f*cking much, and you can’t tell me you don’t love them cuz i’ll literally haunt you in your nightmares (i’m not very scary tho). i absolutely loved them together, and i loved how they both became each other’s safe space when they needed to calm down. their relationship was a little push and pull in the start, which probably mostly is brandon’s fault since he was in complete denial, but that’s understandable knowing what was going on inside his head. i also got surprised when i found out brandon was the oldest, idk why because niko is giving “younger boy” energy, but that honestly just made me love them more. as i said in one of my updates “every brandon king needs a nikolai sokolov, no actually every brandon king deserves a nikolai sokolov” and that i will stand by till the day i die. their relationship was complicated, messy, etc. but i think their relationship defined them as characters really well, it just fitted in with their personalities. i really enjoyed that they were different from rina’s other characters, i don’t feel like anything in their relationship was forced i just feel like they were supposed to be together, soulmates and all that sh*t. i absolutely died when i found out niko actually counted bran’s lashes every night they slept together, he literally knew how many lashes he’d lost since the last time they slept together, if that doesn’t tell you how much niko adores bran idk what will.

now there’s not much of a reason why i didn’t rate this book five stars because i honestly adore it so f*cking much, but i’m trying to be harsher with my ratings and even tho this book was almost perfect in my eyes, i have read better books e. g. the emperor by runyx *wink wink* (maybe not a totally fair comparison but idc it’s my review). i would however have loved to see branbran top niko at least once.

⎯ let me just appreciate my favorite twin duo for a minute (i’m obviously talking about lanxbran):

My brother stops at the door. "One more thing"
"Yeah?"
"Please tell me you top the motherf*cker."
I let my lips curve into a smile as I shake my head. Lan's face falls and he looks like he's on the verge of a heart attack.
"Bloody f*cking hell!”

“Might want to stop starring or I’ll think you have a crush on me or something equally crazy.”

“You’re a f*cking nightmare.”
“Your nightmare”
“I hate you.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re f*cking crazy.”
“About you.”

“Why the hell would you lick me? Are you a dog?”
“Woof.”

“You need help.”
“Then help me, baby.”

“Don’t run from me again. If you do, I’ll flip the world upside down to find you. You’re mine now, baby.”

“Why would he be happy with me when I can’t even stand myself most of the time?”

“As if I want to see your f*cking face.”
“f*cking great”
“Wonderful.”
“Awesome.”
“Fantastic.”

“I’ve never even considered that I could be beautiful until him.”

“Call me baby.”
“Missed your nickname?”
“Do it.”

“I’m terrified that once he cracks me open, he’ll find me revolting. He’ll see me as I see myself in the mirror—as a black hole of nothingness.”

“You were looking at me wired.”
“How wired?”
“Like you wanted to devour me on the spot.”
“I always wanted to devour you, baby.”
“Oh, really? I must’ve missed that.”
“Christ. Was that sarcasm again?”

“Jealous, baby?”
“You belong to me, Nikolai. I do not share, are we clear?”
“f*ck. I love it when you get all possessive.”

“You’re an artist’s dream muse.”
“Then make me yours.”

“He’ll break one day and I’ll be there to pick him up with open arms and an open mouth.”

“Those nicks of the razor were not a coincidence. They were a sign.”

“You cut yourself? Why?”
"Because I'm f*cked up. Because I look at myself in the mirror and get the urge to shatter it to pieces. Because I've been haunted by the bitter taste of nausea and self-loathing for so long, I don't know how to live without them. I was doing fine, pretending and putting on a façade, so why the f*ck did you ruin that? Why did you come into my life and destroy every wall I built and ruin every lie I told myself? Why do you touch me like I'm beautiful? Why don't you hate me when can't stand my-f*cking-self?"

“Baby? You okay?”
“Please… Please let me hold you like this. It doesn’t hurt when you touch me.”

“I’m my own worst enemy.”

“One day. I just need to get my sh*t together to be able to talk about it. Can you wait?”
“Absolutely, and baby? Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

“What are you thinking about?”
“You.”
“Wow. You’re that obsessed?”
“Yeah. It’s not even funny anymore.”

“I want to finally give fifteen-year-old me what he always wanted—justice—and hope that one day, he’ll forgive me. He’ll one day look at me in the mirror and smile. Even if only once.”

“Point is, I love the loving f*ck out of you, baby.”
“I love the loving f*ck out of you, too.”

ੈ✩‧₊˚ nikoxbran song: 🎧 silence by marshmallow and khalid
spotify playlist: rina kent universe

Rina Kent. Please. For the love of god. Leave Russians alone. Don't you think we are already miserable enough? Is this a punishment? We are sorry. Please stop.
Maybe you should move on to tormenting Italians- just please-

#justiceforthebritstoo #britishlivesmatter #henamedhisdickkolya

3 stars

HD footage of Rina:

It's funny how it's a pattern that all first-gen characters have traumas because of their parents, but the second-gen characters have traumas either by the artist mum's agent (cough Angry God cough) or having complexes. EACH AND EVERY TIME. (Not only by Rina but by other authors too).

The length of this book is somehow ridiculous compared to God Of Ruin's because Rina really pushed herself to cover all the events happened from Book 1 till 4, while Landon's book was super rushed and didn't cover much (the secret thing he asked Aiden while Creighton was at the hospital or BranLan's relationship or Elite's group activities).

Rina actually went very discreet with the scene where Creighton accidentally sliced Niko's throat. Niko had a whole conversation with him and had a great part in that scene, but it was TOLD rather than shown in Niko's POV, which was after a WEEK. It's an

The villains in this series are a major downfall. They're super bland, not villainy enough, Didn't give OMG I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING vibes as in their parents' generation (those were actually good).

• Devlan in book 1: well he was cool! He managed to mess badly with Glyn's head, so yeah, cool one.
• Family Drama in Book 2: boring, pathetic.
• Landon in Book 3: he slayed in that book. 🥵 Literally drove Jeremy insane.
• Zayn in Book 3: He shocked me too! I mean, I kinda got sus about him and it turns out he was devlan 2.0
• Miss Pratt in Book 4: bitch who tf? I still cry because SHEEEEEE was a villain? 😭
• Grace pedo here: seriously who tf sends the video of their crime to the victim's BOYFRIEND? She was dumb as f*ck.
• Eli and his stupid psychotic neurons and ability to mess up things with Ava: ehhehe excited. [lie (not really)]

Brandon King — is the superior KING. He's the pride of King's family. THE NORMAL ONE. ONE OF THE BEST ONE. He's very complicated, and the stuff about the black ink choking and suffocating him really made me want to pull him and give him a hug. His grumpy asshole behavior in the start was seriously contrasting with Niko's clingy behavior, but those scenes were freaking cute if not ridiculous. I loved how Bran went from being angry and grumpy to desperate and just as clingy like Niko.

Bran got good development throughout this book where he accepts his sexuality, his desire to want Niko, and missing his clingy behavior. He became as desperate as him. He's super closed and inward with his traumas, and I really don't hate AstridLevi for not pushing because they want the best for Bran, but Landon was right about coddling Bran too much. But yeah, at the end of the day, it's not their fault, and Bran's issues were deep. His inferiority complex because of Landon was realistic, the approval of Landon was so important to him. Eventually, he overcame THAT too to some extent and didn't hate him. He cared too deeply for Landon.

Siblings dynamic: The siblings' relationship between Landon x Brandon x Glyndon is so messed up. Once again, it's a sTaNdAlOnE, so shouldn't Glyn by the end of her book have closure with Landon? Have a good relationship with him just like Brandon because he's also her brother? Nope, got nothing and seriously AGAIN what if I don't read Landon's book? I'd hate him judging by Book 1. Landon's book was so rushed, and Bran was just there for his own story (NikoBran crumbs only), and I don't think that Landon even mentioned Bran the way Bran did.

This book, however, changed things between Lan and Bran 😭 I hate how their conversation about 'spare parts' contact name in the car was NOT in Lan's POV 🤡 even though that scene was in GOR. Landon really expressed his feelings in this book regarding their relationship and why they grew apart, and It felt good seeing them communicate their issues. Landon really win points when he told Bran that he'd die instead of seeing him hurt and begged again to tell him how to make it better for him 🥺 I used to love EliCreigh's duo, but seriously LanBran are the best brothers in this whole series! 🥺

As for Nikolai's relationship with MiaMaya, except for one interaction, it was like he didn't have sisters! These things are seriously important, but Rina brushed them aside.

Nikolai Sokolov — I don't hate him. He's actually pretty clingy, but he's supportive and loyal as Bran said! I enjoyed the scenes where he'd just annoy Bran so much on his morning run, wait for him every day, and is seriously obsessed with him so much! Rina was right when she said that it's not toxic because Niko was like a teddy bear with Bran 😭 It was a perfect match with Bran's grumpy self. Niko's big on communication and knows what he wants and doesn't care about others' opinions. He made a lot of compromises for Bran too! 🥺

It stops there only lol! His dick jokes were unfunny and cringe. I did not enjoy it thank you very much. Kolya Jr.? for f*ck's sake. And When Bran also started talking to KOLYA JR, I lost my sh*t. That 5-year-old boner scene was seriously unnecessary, and if it was meant to make us laugh... sorry, Rina, you failed BADLY. Niko's POV in the start chapters was super cringe, and the only thing that was making me go was Bran's POV. But Niko's POV turned better, but still, he was cringe sometimes when he talked to his dick WHICH WAS IN EACH CHAPTER!

Him giving Brandon an ultimatum to choose between him and Landon and being cold with him really grated on my nerves. I'll not be a hypocrite and love Bran's (tho I do lol) cold attitude, but IT WAS HIS CHARACTER. And Bran got changed and started being clingy too, but Niko was really giving him the cold shoulder. He should've given him more time and tf with his episodes? nvm he was okay.

Kolya Jr. to Niko after initiation:

Astrid and Levi are seriously the best parents, but their constant thought about giving the kids space – something Levi and Astrid didn't get – kind of backfired in some ways. Overall, they're amazing. Niko's relationship with Kyle was really chill and nice. It's good how even Bran appreciated his dad. I'm scared for Eli because Aiden is a petty person who's jealous of his own SON!

❝At this point, only Killian is falling behind on the popularity vote in the King household.❞

Killian knowing Mia and Nikolai are Levi's favorites:

RATINGS:

• God Of Malice – 3 stars
• God Of Pain – 2 stars
• God Of Wrath – 4 stars
• God Of Ruin – 3 stars
• God Of Fury – 3 stars
• God Of War - TBR

…. i’m speechless

"I actually found you a perfect nickname. Lotus Flower. You know, because you managed to bloom so beautifully while surrounded by the muddy swamp that is Landon."

Brandon King has always done everything to protect his brother.
Especially from himself.
One night that lands him being chased in the middle of the forest.
And he caught the eye of the most vicious of the Heathens.
Nikolai Sokolov.
Brandon isn't interested in Nikolai. Wants nothing to do with him. He messes up his whole routine.
But Nikolai won't give up that easily. Or maybe at all.

"Brandon is making himself into a war that I'll conquer and bring to his f*cking knees. Literally."

Ever since that night in the forest, everything changed.
Nikolai Sokolov has a new obsession.
And his name? Brandon King.
He will do anything to keep him in his web.
Even if it means breaking him and eating him alive.

"It was because he can effortlessly rip at my control and tear it to shreds as if it was never there in the first place."

I am being %100 serious when I am telling you that this is one of my top 5 if not top 3 reads of 2023 if not my life. This book was so much more than I expected. It pulled me apart, pieced me back together, and pulled me apart again. Like Niko and Bran my heart was literally push and pull. This book is amazing. I have no notes. It is stained with tears for the I will not apologize because the emotions that ran through me during this book… I don't think I had anything like this and I cannot thank Rina Kent enough.
Plus collecting the Ava and Eli crumbs was everything and shout out to Levi King for making me literally pee my pants from laughter.

"But lotus flower is this golden boy who hides more than he shows and I'm thirsty for any crumb I can get. Not that he makes it easy."

Okay, let's start with Nikolai Sokolov. Our scary sunshine. His parents were not wrong. He's a bulldog. When he sees what he wants nothing will stand in his way. Not even Brandon King himself. He made me CACKLE with his jokes and with Kolya. And his relationship with his dad was hilarious!! Him wanting to do anything and everything he can not to hurt Brandon is something that touched me during this book. Because even when he was hurting it was worse for him when Brandon was hurting. And yes I am talking about

"Ah, f*ck. I want to defrost that layer of control you're wrapped in and see what lurks inside the preppy boy."

"Don't run away from me again. If you do, I'll flip the world upside down to find you. You're mine now, baby."

"That's it, lotus flower. Break for me."

Brandon King. Brandon King has to be one of my favorite characters in the Rina Kent universe ever. Let me explain. Throughout the whole Legacy Of Gods books we have been given breadcrumbs that I did not give too much attention to. I was collecting breadcrumbs about all the couples evenly. And that is how I went into this book with excitement and literally kicking my feet for their book. I did not expect this book to dish me the emotional turmoil that I went through. This is really hard for me to type but I identify with Brandon. Luckily not with what he experienced but with how he feels. Feeling like a burden, nothing is enough, always disappointing, "why would anybody want me?". It is a horrible experience to live through and every time he jumped on the page I wanted to give him a big hug. I was on Brandon's side no matter what. I cannot stop thinking about him and I am so proud. And thanks to Niko he was capable of loosening the reigns a little. Sorry for the sappy feelings but I had to get it out lol. Anyway yes Brandon King is my new favorite Rina Kent character and definitely in top 10 characters. I am telling myself and anyone going through this. YOU ARE NOT A BURDEN! YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE IMPORTANT (and I will always mean that). It's hard feeling like you're alone, but you always have people.

"In my twenty-three years of life, I've always been the type of man who follows the rules. I've never deviated from what's expected of me and I'm creeped out at the notion of being different. In any sense. For whatever reason."

"I can take anything as long as I have him."

"He touches me as if I'm normal, and I need that. I f*cking crave it."

Anyway back to the review (back to our regularly scheduled programming). This playlist is a MF beast and I am not apologizing 😆 It includes Rina's playlist as well because her playlists are bomb but these are songs that I added that I feel identify with the book for me and I feel like I encapsulated it pretty well if I do say so myself. 💅💅

(Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ye... )

🎶 "Lose Control" - Teddy Swims
🎶 "RUNRUNRUN" - Dutch Melrose
🎶 "Circus Psycho" - Diggy Graves
🎶 "Freak Show" - Jake Daniels, AViVA
🎶 "Colors" - Halsey
🎶 "Anarchist" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Don't Ever Stop Running" - Maggie Jean Martin
🎶 "BREATHING UNDERWATER" - Hot Milk
🎶 "Paint It Black - Epic Trailer Version" - Hidden Citizens, Ranya
🎶 "Nonsense" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Like A Villain"- Bad Omens
🎶 "THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Heaven" - Julia Michaels
🎶 "stacy's brother" - Mad Tsai
🎶 "Sociopath"- Stayloose, Bryce Fox
🎶 "Control" - Halsey
🎶 "Victim" - Halflives
🎶 "Tattoo" - Loreen
🎶 "My Own Worst Enemy" - Lit
🎶 "Bad Luck" - Noah Kahan
🎶 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto
🎶 "When You Say My Name" - Chandler Leighton
🎶 "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid
🎶 "War Of Hearts (Violin)" - Joel Sunny
🎶 "Wreak Havoc" - Skylar Grey
🎶 "Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene" - Hozier
🎶 "Figure You Out" - VOILA
🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Sterling, Lzzy Hale
🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token
🎶 "eyes don't lie sped up" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "goosebumps" - Travis Scott
🎶 "Shivers" - Ed Sheeran
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "More" - 5 Seconds Of Summer
🎶 "I Feel Like I'm Drowning" - Two Feet
🎶 "Everything Black" - Unlike Pluto, Mike Taylor
🎶 "Seven Nation Army" - Stevie Howie
🎶 "Seven" - Rain Paris
🎶 "The Exit" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Train Wreck" - James Arthur
🎶 "Half A Man" - Dean Lewis
🎶 "Kryptonite" - 3 Doors Down
🎶 "Why Am I Like This?" - Orla Gartland
🎶 "doomsday" - Lizzy McAlpine
🎶 "Teenage Dirtbag" - Wheatus
🎶 "Bad Liar" - Imagine Dragons
🎶 "Happy Face" - Jagwar Twin
🎶 "Love Is The Devil" - Natalie Jane
🎶 "Uncomfortably Numb" - Arrows In Action, Taylor Acorn
🎶 "Looking At Me" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎶 "Secret Love Song" - Little Mix, Jason Derulo
🎶 "Rodeo" - Lah Pat
🎶 "DANCING ALL ALONE" - Clinton Kane
🎶 "CHRONICALLY CAUTIOUS" - Braden Bales
🎶 "salvation" - Christabelle Marbun
🎶 "Taste" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Savage" - Bahari
🎶 "Habits (Stay High)" - Tove Lo
🎶 "Movement" - Hozier
🎶 "Chokehold" - Sleep Token
🎶 "MANTRA" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" - Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart
🎶 "Another Life" - Motionless In White
🎶 "Love The Way You Hate Me" - Like A Storm
🎶 "Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
🎶 "play pretend" - margo
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don't We
🎶 "I See Red" - Everybody Loves An Outlaw
🎶 "Not Gonna Die" - Skillet
🎶 "Monsters" - All Time Low, blackbear
🎶 "Do It For Me" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Gladiator" - Jann
🎶 "Touch" - Little Mix
🎶 "The Drug In Me Is You" - Falling In Reverse
🎶 "Don't Give Up On Me" - Andy Grammer
🎶 "Don't Give Me Up" - f*ckPerk
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "Migraine" - Twenty One Pilots
🎶 "Don't Blame Me" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Breaking Down" - I Prevail
🎶 "idontwannabeyouanymore" - Billie Eilish
🎶 "f*ck U Betta" - Mister Chase
🎶 "If I Dies Last Night" - Jessie Murph
🎶 "Hold Me While You Wait" - Lewis Capaldi
🎶 "Just Pretend" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Hated" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎶 "Shameless" - Camila Cabello
🎶 "Fire On Fire" - Sam Smith
🎶 "Cravin'" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige
🎶 "Beggin'" - Maneskin
🎶 "Animals" - Nickelback
🎶 "Numb" - Linkin Park
🎶 "Fake Happy" - Paramore
🎶 "The Story Of Us (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Someone To You" - BANNERS
🎶 "Escapism - Sped Up" - RAYE, 070 Shake
🎶 "Anyone" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "I'm Tired" - Labrinth, Zendaya
🎶 "underwater" - Mackenzie Arromba
🎶 "Block Me Out" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "National Anthem" - Lana Del Rey
🎶 "Collide (Sped Up Remix)" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎶 "Cologne" - SM6
🎶 "Popular" - The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Maddona
🎶 "Nobody Hates You" - JESSIA
🎶 "Panic Room" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Angels Like You" - Miley Cyrus
🎶 "NEVAPART (Sped Up)" - DJ LILLI
🎶 "I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE" - Maneskin
🎶 "Glimpse Of Us" - Joji
🎶 "The Archer" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Gangsta" - Kehlani
🎶 "Dirty Little Secret" - The All-American Rejects
🎶 "Whatever It Takes" - Imagine Dragons
🎶 "Complicated - Metal Version" - Melrose Avenue
🎶 "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT" - Loveless
🎶 "Please Don't Leave Me" - P!nk
🎶 "Heather" - Conan Gray
🎶 "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" - My Chemical Romance
🎶 "Someone You Loved" - Lewis Capaldi
🎶 "she's all I wanna be - Acoustic" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Still Into You" - Paramore
🎶 "People Watching" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Elastic Heart" - Sia
🎶 "Because Of You" - Kelly Clarkson
🎶 "Middle Finger" - Bohnes
🎶 "Until I Found You - Piano Version" - Stephen Sanchez
🎶 "Mirrors - Radio Edit" - Justin Timberlake

And for the spicy reads…

"f*ck me. I love the way you growl my name, baby."

"Come for me, baby. Show me who you belong to."

"I'm going to f*cking ruin you as badly as you've ruined me, my lotus flower. I'll get so far beneath your skin, you'll never get rid of me."

"Eyes on me when I f*ck you. You wanted hard, right?"

🪷

🥐 Mafia Prince x Golden Boy
🥐 Grumpy x Scary Sunshine
🥐 Secret Romance
🥐 Push & Pull
🥐 Gay Awakening
🥐 Brother's Enemy

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1MujIKIs...

|| 3.5 stars ||

➛First read: January 2024 | ★4.5 stars
➛Second read: April 2024 | ★3.5 stars

EDIT after my re-read:
I didn’t like it as much as I did the first time. It could be because I reread this way too soon and still remembered everything to a point that it became a little boring, but it could also be because I started to notice a few things that annoyed me. The most obvious thing being how often Nikolai dropped or ghosted Bran. He “dumped” him more times than I can count, and that’s not really the behaviour I expect or want from someone who’s supposedly obsessed. Furthermore, Bran always took Niko back immediately after Niko abandoned him or did some other sh*tty thing, and he was never angry about it. I really wanted him to make Niko grovel more, but I also just needed Niko to never ever give up on Bran in the first place. But nope, that’s not what happened. And that’s what made this book less enjoyable for me this time around.

Original Review:
Wow. Just wow. I’m in love. Just utterly, irrevocably in love. Brandon and Nikolai were complete perfection and everything I wanted them to be. I just love them so much, it physically hurts my heart to know that it’s over. I miss them already.

“You’re a f*cking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers.
“Your nightmare.”
“I hate you.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re f*cking crazy.”
“About you,” I whisper against his lips and claim them with a guttural moan.

This was my first Rina Kent book, and I’m truly so happy that I decided to skip ahead in the series to these two beautiful souls (after all, this book works perfectly as a standalone). I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss their story for the world!

I’m struggling a little bit to find the right words to describe the beauty and sublimity of this romance. But I’ll try my best. I think I should probably begin by explaining the two amazing main characters, because they’re both so complex and beautiful that you need to understand them to appreciate how epic their love story is:

First I’ll talk about beautiful, self-loathing Brandon.
He was the kind of person who would always be kind and patient with the people around him. He wore a carefully constructed mask of pleasantries and politeness; all day, every day. He never lost control of himself; actually, he couldn’t lose control, or he would completely spiral.
Thus, he managed to keep his breakdowns perfectly in check through a strict routine, until the day that he met Nikolai. Niko saw the true man behind the mask and he awakened a passion and rage inside of Brandon that he had tried to push deep down inside of him for many years. He believed he had to be perfect, that he had to be in control, because if he wasn’t, he’d be afraid everyone would see him as the weakling and waste of space he himself thought he was.

“You cut yourself?” My words are low, but they’re so loud in the silence. “Why?”
“Because I’m f*cked up.” His voice sounds like death’s lullaby, anguished and shattered. “Because I look at myself in the mirror and get the urge to shatter it to pieces. Because I’ve been haunted by the bitter taste of nausea and self-loathing for so long, I don’t know how to live without them. I was doing fine, pretending and putting on a façade, so why the f*ck did you ruin that? Why did you come into my life and destroy every wall I built and ruin every lie I told myself? Why do you touch me like I’m beautiful? Why don’t you hate me when I can’t stand my-f*cking-self?”

Then we have Nikolai.
Oh, what a beautiful soul he was. It might sound a little strange to say this about a man whose favourite hobby was inflicting violence and chaos (before he met the love of his life), but he truly was beautiful to me. Yes, he was insane, but never in a sad*stic way. The way he explained the violence was more like he needed a way to get rid of all the energy stuck inside of him; like he desperately needed an outlet he couldn’t find anywhere else (again, before he met the love of his life).
But this violent part of him was not all there was to him. He was also incredibly caring, observant, funny, hyper, sweet and kind. And Brandon was the one who always brought out that side of him. Niko couldn’t be anything else around him, because he was always just so damn happy to be around the guy he adored with all his being. He actually reminded me of an over-eager puppy most of the time. And it was absolutely adorable.

“I love him and I want to be with him. Despite his violent exterior, he’s really a teddy bear deep down, you know. A golden retriever through and through. He’s extremely affectionate and respectful and makes sure I’m comfortable and happy.”
“What type of voodoo did he use on my control-freak brother? More importantly, why did it have to be him? You’re allergic to violence and I’m pretty sure he’s illiterate.”
“Lan! I’ll have you know he has a 4.15 GPA. Don’t make fun of his intelligence again or I’ll be really cross with you.”
“Jesus Christ. You’re defending him?”
“Get used to it. I won’t allow you or anyone else to insult him.”

Now, let’s continue with the romance:

At the beginning of their relationship there was of course lot of push-and-pull from Brandon because he was so very afraid of this man who brought out all these intense emotions inside of him. He didn’t want those. He wanted a simple, lifeless existence, not the fire that Niko lit inside him. But Niko would never take no for an answer. He knew Bran was the man he wanted and he would have fought tooth and nail to finally win this wonderfully infuriating man for himself.

I'm done for. Finished. Absolutely jumping off a cliff, rolling and cracking a few bones and not giving a flying f*ck, because I have my prize at the bottom.
Him.

Niko’s devotion and pure dedication to Bran was a gorgeous sight to behold from beginning to end; I’m not sure I have ever seen a man as whipped for anyone as Niko was for Bran. He was obsessed in the most literal sense of the word. From the moment he met Bran, it was like nothing else in the world existed besides this beautifully complex man. Bran was obviously a little later on the uptake, but it didn’t take too long for his defences to crumble under the incessant pursuit and courtship or the contagious hurricane of Niko’s feelings.

He can’t possibly expect me to stay away. It’s true that I last saw him this morning, but I’ve been going through withdrawals.
My mood is dangerously dependent on him and that’s not even funny anymore, but I’m done trying to figure it out.
I’m just obsessed with this man and everything about him. Some would argue it’s something a lot more dire than obsession.
He consumes me, but he also grounds me. I’ve never felt as mentally strong as when I’m with him. Even the most mundane things we do together—having meals, watching movies, listening to him read the boring morning newspapers—bring a huge smile to my face.
Brandon King is ravaging me alive.

I loved that Niko and Bran both had their own issues, but that the other person was always the one who quieted those demons for them. Niko always felt restless and Bran always felt empty, but when they were together Niko was calmer and able to focus on one thing (namely, his love for Bran), while Bran was finally able to feel anything and let go of his control. They both made each other a much better person, and their unwavering support for each other brought the comfort they both desperately craved. They finally found peace and happiness. Which was made even more exceptional by the fact that they found it in an epically complex and hard-fought romance, and with a person so much their opposite that they (or, more likely, Bran, since Niko was smitten from the very beginning) would have never expected it to work out. But it did. And it was beautiful and stunning and gorgeous.

“And, baby?”
He kisses the top of my head and his next words nearly give me a heart attack.
“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to the relationship Brandon had with his identical twin, Landon. There were so many hidden emotions and deeper layers within their bond, I genuinely would read a whole book only about them! Alas, there isn’t one, but I would have given an arm and a leg for more of these two.
It honestly broke my heart to see the inferiority complex Brandon had because he saw how easy everything seemed to be for his (supposedly) superior brother; how everyone flocked to him and admired his genius and brash personality. It especially hurt Bran so much when he compared all of that glitter and shine to how hard it was for him to simply find the will to live. He really felt so very small and insignificant next to his mighty brother, and thus, he began pushing him away around the time they hit puberty. He thought Landon didn’t care about him, and even when he did, that it was only because of the way Brandon’s flaws would reflect on Lan’s own reputation. Landon was, after all, a narcissistic sociopath, so those thoughts weren’t entirely without root. However, Bran couldn’t be more wrong because if there was anything in the world Landon cared most about it was him; his sweet brother who pushed him away without him ever understanding why.
They truly both loved each other so much, and they would always do anything to help or save their other half. It really was beautiful to see them find their way back to each other:

“Come here.” I open my arms and I suspect he’ll push me away since he’s allergic to showing affection. However, my brother slides right between my arms and hugs me for the first time since that night eight years ago.
“I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living f*ck out of me.”
“Love you, too, Lan.” I exhale against his neck, my chest nearly bursting with emotions.

All in all, I think it’s safe to say I am in love with this book. The characters completely captured my heart and the romance had me swooning uncontrollably. I am in love. Truly.

'Legacy of Gods' series:
1. God of Malice - 1.0 star
3. God of Wrath - 2.5 stars
5. God of Fury - 3.5 stars

i did not sign for "Kolya" to be a paid actor in this book, iykyk. so, minus one star.
———
im scared.. but let’s go

her best book ever. hands down. the idea i had of bran from the previous books couldn’t have been more wrong, and i loved him so much 😭 niko was somehow both unhinged and adorable. his love for bran was everything.

i’ve always enjoyed rina’s books, but never really felt this connected to or emotionally invested in a couple before. teddy hamilton and shane east absolutely killed the narration. i almost shed a few tears on more than one occasion 🥲

69% sure this book is Nikolai×Brandon 😏 I loved Nikolai so much and Brandon seems like a male version of Glyndon. Also am I the only one that sees a little bit of Damien from THRONE DUET and DECEPTION DUET in Nikolai's personality?

Rina Kent describing a five year old’s erection is so Seven Rue coded of her.

she always manages to keep me on my toes🌚 whenever i think she can’t sink any lower… and to the people who think it’s funny, pls seek medical attention immediately. i can even link some hotlines for you to call.

this fanart has me running laps 🥵

3.5 indecisive 'it was imperfectly good' stars ⭐

"That's it baby. Eyes on me as I choke on your co*ck."

the writing was so basic and the smut was mediumkey (mom i invented a new word!) a cringefest. rina YOU NEED A f*ckING BREAK. stop ruining our potential couples for f*cks sake!!

pre-review i talked about how nikobran will be good as rina won't have to go through the pain of writing a female character. AND I WAS DAMN RIGHT!

"You better remember who the f*ck you belong to, Nikolai."

nikobran were certainly different. different from anything rina has written before. for once the bottom one was not weak one. brandon knew how to stand up for himself, he knew how to put nikolai in his place, and he for sure knew how to fight back and throw some damn puches wherever necessary!! for once the bottom one was not the doormat waiting to be stepped upon. (well that's understandable cuz that role is secured for all the female characters right rina *wink wink*)

infact, brandon was the dominant one in the relationship, despite being a bottom during sex, while nikolai followed his orders like an obedient puppy.

one of my biggest complaints in rk books was rectified in this one: there were tons of domestic moments. rk actually focused on giving them some cute adorable moments outside of sex. i appreciate the effort in developing their relationship.
(i read that again and internally cringed. the bar is so f*cking low istg)

now i haven't read much 'woke' books. yk the books with diverse representation. i'm a simple girl who needs an emotional plot with a decent m/f smut. so this was my first mm adult book. the sexual awakening of brandon was good, i think. at first i was a little sceptical about it and thought nikolai was trying to gaslight brandon to believe he's gay, afterall you can enjoy sex with the same gender and not be emotionally gay. you can be experimental and like the thrill of f*cking the same gender and be straight at the same time. but the book gradually developed and we go through brandon's emotions and dilemma of accepting himself. it felt real.

"I hate myself. Why don't you hate me too?"

brandon is a greatly written character. probably the character with most depth rina has ever written about. he's hands down the most f*cked up character of this series. he's a posh british gentleman who on the exterior appears to be calm and collected but is a clusterf*ck from within. he gets off by harming himself, drawing his own blood by slitting his wrists, deliberately knicking his face and thighs while razing. it was truly sad to see him like this :(

i liked how he's an ace. demiace is the right word i think. it added more to the complexity of him accepting himself. his struggles to feel comfortable in his own skin was greatly represented, how his repeated annoyance of being treated like a girl indicated how he felt less manly by being gay (and a bottom), how he was so afraid of being different and not living up to the societies expectations, how his inferiority complex held him back by making him think that he'll be viewed any less than landon if he comes out, or be any less perfect from him.

i wish i could give him a tight hug the entire book ☹️

but i was glad nikolai was there for him at all times. i was glad he was so patient with him and waited for him to accept himself and come out on his own. he's so in love he agreed to be his dirty little secret no matter how much it killed him from inside.

"Even if you hate yourself, I'll love you for both of us."

nikolai. well niko ugh he needs to shut up sometimes. he speaks a lot. like really, HE TALKS A LOT. and especially during sex, like bitch i want a sexy manwhor* not a talking puppet who won't shut up!!
He's madddd goofy and i absolutely love him for that!! he named his dick kolya and treats it as a third person. He even talked to Brandon's dick the first time they went down and dirty. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HOW HE WAS COMPLETELY AND PATHETICALLY WHIPPED FOR BRANDON. HE COUNTED ALL OF HIS EYESLASHES!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!? He's sooo clingy that it was even exhausting to me at times. And he never ever gave up on brandon, no matter how much he pushed him away (which was A LOT so give my guy some credit. i woulda left his ass long ago)

ugh this book definitely helped a lot with my reading slump. ik a rina kent's book is far from perfection, so i was ready for the ruination of nikobran, but gladly it didn't happen so thankyou rina *mwah* (the bar is in f*cking hell atp😭) the couple had no flaws for sure, it's the writing that left me dissapointed. i atleast had high expectations from that part, especially after reading god of wrath, but this like any other rk book seems to be a rushed havoc.

and writing matters to me. A LOT. so 3.5 stars it is! ✨✨✨

(imma fluctuate my rating from 3 to 4 stars everytime i think about them haha i'm indecisive like that, love that for me <3)

writing about the penis of a 5 year old kid and making sexual jokes about it is so f*cking weird. rina kent has no shame.

5⭐️

“Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : London Boy-Taylor Swift

”Day in and day out, I have to exist. To be out there and f*cking stay there. In the middle of people with blurry faces and names and personalities. All day, I tell myself that I belong with them and that I’m not in fact battling with incessant nausea that saturates my lungs with every breath. That’s what I do best. Pretend. Swallow it all down. Smile.

bran is the classic introvert who has insecurities but tries to look good in front of others, he needs validation especially from his twin brother, Landon. their relationship started as a sh*tty one, but then slowly became one of the most beautiful brotherhood i’ve ever read. ofc, it made me appreciate more landon.
brandon is also pretty reserved but loved by everyone. since he’s also demisexual (which means he likes sex only when he likes the person, so he’s not totally asexual but he’s not the opposite either), has always had a problem with expressing his sexuality, feeling ashamed or uncomfortable which led him to only date women.
it’s easy to relate to him and put yourself in his shoes, bc he’s real, you know? he’s not perfect, even tho he pretends to be all the time. he has flaws which makes him more authentic. i really appreciated how niko helped him exploring his sexuality, being there for him whenever he needed while never judging him. he’s also controlled and organized and needs to follow a routine otherwise he’d go mental. he kinda has OCD. he’s also very possessive of niko. at first, he didn’t want to have niko’s attention but once he realized he was in love, he was a goner. he cooked for him and dried his hair (AWWW).

niko is the opposite of bran. he’s full of energy, always smiling, grinning, and being an infuriating ray of sunshine. he’s confident and loyal. open with his sexuality (he declared he was bi at 14) which makes him not ashamed at all. he doesn’t like clothes and prefers to go around half naked.

”He’s effortlessly the most attractive specimen to ever walk the earth, beautiful in his confidence, loud in his assertiveness, and absolutely hotheaded in his loyalty.”

he’s anything but controlled, let alone organized. but somehow his personality and bran’s are a match made in heaven bc they’re perfect for each other. they balance each other in the best possible way.
even tho niko is the classic gangster, full of tattoos and with a trend of punching ppl, he’s also the sweetest person ever. he loves bran deeply and he never treated him like sh*t. since the beginning, he’s been thoughtful and caring. it’s the understatement of the century saying he fell first and harder but we love niko for that. he’s also funny and very possessive and territorial. he called him lotus flower and tattooed a lotus flower with brandon’s name on his chest, close to his heart, exactly where he said he was waiting to fill the blank space with something special. CAN I HAVE A NIKO TOO????
he also waited for bran to feel comfortable enough to come out, which is something that someone mustn’t take for granted. he understood bran and helped him in accepting himself. he had patience and love for both of them.

the romance was just perfect, as you may have already understood by my previous words. their love was so genuine and cute that filled my heart with happiness. but they weren’t just cute and sweet an so on, they were also hot asf. yeah, you heard it right: the smut was chef kiss, 5 out of 5, highly recommended. this wasn’t my first time reading a MM book, but so far this one is my fav. there was jealousy, possessiveness etc. but even those were so cute i was blushing every time!
also, there was a moment that made me laugh my ass off and it was when bran’s father meets niko for the first time. i’ll leave you a piece of his inner monologue bc it’s too hilarious to not mention it.

”He can’t possibly be worse than Killian. Anyone is better than Killian. It was an exaggeration on Bran’s part to emotionally prepare me. Again, no one can be worse than Killian. Those were the thoughts I had before I went to bed last night, and I woke up today in a proper fantastic mood. Until now. Or, more accurately, since I walked into the kitchen and saw the motherf*cking gangster who’s built like a f*cking wall, standing beside my son.” […] “Dear f*cking God, I know you’re out there somewhere and I beg you, take this arsehole and give my son a normal lover. Just once, I want f*cking normal. First I get a psycho son. Okay, fine. Love that. Best challenge of my life and pretty sure I passed it. I didn’t need to have my daughter with a psycho boyfriend. And now, it’s the psycho’s psycho f*cking cousin. What the f*ck have I done to deserve that? Was I a mass murderer in a past life or something?”

so,

“Oh cool, you remember! Nice to officially meet you, Brandon. Or, hold on! I actually found you a perfect nickname. Lotus flower. You know, because you managed to bloom so beautifully while surrounded by the muddy swamp that is Landon. Isn’t that so f*cking poetic?”

“I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living f*ck out of me.”
“Love you, too, Lan.” I exhale against his neck, my chest nearly bursting with emotions.

If a few weeks ago someone had told me my lotus flower would be taking me on one date, let alone three, I would’ve called an ambulance. But here we are on our third date. That’s right. Third. Outside. With people around us. And he’s not panicking. I stare down at his hand in mine, our fingers intertwined, and I discreetly pinch my nape. That hurts. This is not a f*cking dream.

“I’m going to sleep.”
“Wait for me!” A huge body slams into mine, crashing me into the bed. I groan as I try to push him off me, but it’s impossible.

“By the way, I noticed you had no food in your place, so I ordered you some Italian pastries for breakfast.”
I grin. He loves me. I just know he does. Okay, he doesn’t, but he cares, and that’s a good start.

“Listen to me, you thick f*cker. I’ve been tolerating your nonsense for far too long, but enough is enough. You’re not my peer, friend, or anything in between. So crawl back into your hole and stop being in my f*cking space or I will crush you.”
“Talk dirty to me, baby.”

He kisses me like he will never let go of me. Like he’ll burn for me as hot as I burn for him. I want this moment to last forever, please and f*cking thank you.

I really hope Niko and brans book is not going to be like the others. All three of the other books literally felt like the same book except different couples. Like they were all possessive, obsessive, and a bit controlling. And I want that for niko and brans book but I also want lovey dovey scenes where they are actually being nice and sweet towards each other. Like I want niko to be worried about Brandon and his mental health and him actually going to his lacrosse games and being proud of him and Brandon running to him after he wins. Like I actually want them to be loving towards each other and not just possessive and controlling. I have high hopes for this book and I hope Rina doesn’t disappoint.

💛✨my first MM romance book✨💛
Rina wasn’t lying about this book!! It broke me, and then healed me in the best possible way.
I’m biased so skip the review if you’re looking for criticism, there is no criticising my babies for me. 😽 (even tho there were a few things I’d have done differently, but they were too few, and to not rate this book what it deserves would be unjust, I can’t overlook all of the best things about it, which were like 99%) so here we are. But trust me it deserves all the love and more than 5 stars!
Because the way I felt throughout the book, I can’t put into words. Beautiful. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL. 💖
To be exactly defining my emotions for the this book would be me singing “A thousand years by Christina Perri” 🫶🏼
To finally meet my babies and get inside their heads, wow. I am so in love. 🥺❤️ This was my most awaited couple EVER. Literally ever, I have never anticipated a book this bad, like they were in my thoughts everyday even before the release. So imagine me after reading the book. 🫠
Every second of NxB was beautiful, you can’t tell me otherwise.
I wanna stay here in this moment forever with them and I know I will be, because they are now forever pieces of my heart. 💌♾

💛NIKOLAI *sweetest (only for Bran)* SOKOLOV💛
Nikolai’s inner monologue were such a delight to read. I was giggling, laughing the entire time and what not. He’s so unserious I love it 😭😂 y’all hating him for no reason? Bec he was described as such character in previous books as well. He’s supposed to be this unserious and childish. And pls Bran needed that type of silly joy in his life. 🕺 He’s enough smart for the both of them, and well after meeting Bran, Niko actually started ‘thinking’ and knew his Prince Charming loves smart stuff so y’all pls don’t bash my baby for being goofy. He’s cute plsss. 🥺🤭
He’s very simple as he says. I found him to be quite straightforward, he’s genuine. Whatever it was he was feeling, he never shied away from any of his emotions ever, which was admirable tbh.
Oh the one thing I disliked about him was ☠️Kolya☠️ bruh why??? 😭 and the amount of times it was mentioned, don’t even get me started 👺 that was kinda cringe… But I WILL let it slide bec I’m a biaseddd for my baby, okay? okay.
Niko is definition of the quote “Never back down, never give up” LITERALLY, my boy never gave up despite so many rejections, although he did get mad sometimes and threw fits, AND I GOT MAD FOR THAT BEC HOW DARE HE GIVE UP CHASING MY LOTUS FLOWER? Though maybeee his fits were justified 🫣 bec my baby Bran really wasn’t giving him the time of his day…. and yet I have no complains for Bran, bec when Niko pushed, Bran backed up and pulled so no complains for baby Bran 😽 Nikolai was a sunshine for Bran thru and thru. He was like Bran mentioned “an elastic band” which kept bouncing back to him. ❤️ I so absolutely enjoyed his character, his obsession, his possessiveness, his nicknames 🤭😽, his care for ONLY Bran and so much more. Basically everything except Kolya👹😂.
The people were bashing him for no reason. 🙄 HE IS THE CUTEST, SWEETEST PERSON TO EXIST HOW DARE YOU SAY NEGATIVE STUFF ABOUT BRAN’S GOOF BALL. I’m hurt 🙇 He’s preciousss and makes Bran happy and saved Bran’s life what more can I ask for? Anddd he killed for baby Bran!! He was NEVER harsh toward Bran (unlike the usual toxicity we find in every RK hero), I’d say he was quite patient with him. He loves his ‘baby’ so much mannn, I was in awe the entire time. The things he said to Bran everytime were so adorable, I’d say he was in love since the first time he sae his Lotus flower 🫠🫶🏼 NO ONE CAN DO NIKOLAI’s LEVEL OF OBSESSION. NO. ONE. He’s truly “whipped” for BRAN 😽

🪷BRANDON *perfect* KING 🪷
My beautiful, precious baby.
The love of my life. A character I want to give my biggest hugssss. Bran’s character was the one with more depth, so well described, such genuine struggles, my heart hurts for my baby. Though I already kinda predicted the self-harm/suicide part by listening to the playlist and I knew it’d be Bran. I was already scared for that part bec I knew it’d be painful. He was everything I expected and so much more. Such a sweetheart. Oh and a grump (only with Niko) bec he makes him lose his control. The pain he went through everyday was heartbreaking, to feel him hurting everyday was truly, so heartbreaking. He deserves ALL THE LOVE. I WILL KILL FOR HIM 🤺He’s an Angel. Protect him at all costs.
Like TS said ✨in a world of boys, he’s a gentleman✨
Everyday he fought his demons which is why he kept pushing Niko, bec he didn’t want to hurt him along with himself. He struggled everyday, yet did his best to survive. I’m proud of him. 🫶🏼 I also loved how he was hesitant at first and didn’t jump at the first opportunity of Niko pursuing him, he slowly came to terms with it and accepted it. His hesitancy was real and I’m glad it was shown that way, he took his right time. And I am so so glad, he re-discovered and started creating his preferred art, also sketches of Nikolai were 🥺🫶🏼 and when he started sketching himself back, my heart felt so happy, I felt proud 🫀✨
He’s perfect. He cooks, is obedient to his parents, cares for everyone from humans to animals, does incredible art. Oh and I loveee his fashion sense. 🤤 and so much more. Oh and also buys desserts for Niko bec he has a sweet tooth. And what not? He’s perfectttt. With the most beautiful heart ever. Bran was such a different male Rina character. He’s perfection. He’s everything. He’s love. He’s truly ✨goldennn✨ Bran does no wrong everrrr. He’s the best guy ever in every way possible. ♥️😽🥰
Oh and I loved the scene were this little girl gave him a flower. That was cute. Because I wanna give him flowers too, lots of them. 🤭💘
Anything I say for him would be less. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. With all my heart and soul. 💛❤️❤️‍🩹

♾NxB♾
Don’t even get me started on their tattoos *GOOD GRIEF* 🥺😽🫠🤭🥰 my babies are sooo cute and soooo in love. Them together, WOW.ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!! Their rings, Perfection. 🥺💘
The push and pull between them, the softness, the obsession, I can’t even shut up about ittt!
Ohh and they f*cked a lottt, tbh I didn’t expected it to have so many smut scenes but it was hot 🥵
Also their texts were so much fun, every text exchange was loveee. Their dates, omg cutest 🥺✨
Niko is sooo obsessed with Bran, tho who wouldn’t be? HE’S BRANDON f*ckING KING. 😽
Niko can’t fall asleep on a bed without Bran. Niko bought an apartment for him just so Bran would have a comfortable place to be around him. Niko was ‘enough’ considerate not to throw things around bec Bran hated the mess. Oh and boy turned into a stalker for Bran, love him for that! And can you guess Niko’s favorite time of the day? It is 5:30, bec that’s when he meets the highlight of his day, my precious Lotus flower. 💛🫶🏼 who would have thought the violent, chaotic Nikolai could be so thoughtful for the love of his life? 😭❤️ N&B and truly exact opposites, but they fit together so well. I couldn’t have asked for a better couple. No love like NikoBran’s 💗
“Yellow” by Coldplay was the perfect song Rina added to their playlist. That’s soooo NIKO to BRAN. 😭🫀✨
The entire book was a highlight tbh. 💛 Every moment, every line was a highlight, can’t just put one here. The whole book is a starrr of the show. ♾
I miss them already. 😭 I can never get enough of them. ❤️‍🔥 Is if too soon to re-read it though? 🫣
can we get another book for them @rina please? 😽

📌Also I kinda expected more from the punching scene but there wasn’t really much to it. (Tho Idc at this point, bec I was given so much more also so 😽)
📌 Unlike other books, this one didn’t really feed any crumbs for the other couples. Not only that not much of their sibling/friend groups bonds were shown here. Though I’m not complaining I love me some BRAN AND NIKO only.
📌 There definitely isn’t copy paste of another books! Some scenes were repeated from previous books but those were the scenes we were dying for from a long time so. 🤷🏻‍♀️
📌Once again, loved Landon here like every other book (unlike his own’s 🫣). I cherished their twin bond more than anything, I was so happy they reconnected, I’ve been waiting for the moment since so long 🫂🫶🏼 and Lan for the first time apologizing and confessing his love to Bran was so precious 😩💗🫀 one of my top favorite siblings scene from the entire LOG series. 🙌
📌 Jeremy and Niko, best bro bond of the series 💛🧡 Every scene of them together was an icing on the cake to me but their scenes were so less, I wanted more. 🥲 The lacrosse game scene tho. So cute. 😂🤭
📌 White mask identity is surely revealed. But it was made such a big thing in other books of the series, here it was just vaguely revealed.
📌 Both of Niko and Bran’s relationships with their father were so precious and pure. I adored them. 🤍
Especially Kyle and Niko’s, so adorableee, their banter>>>
Also My goddd, Niko was so polite to Levi, even he was surprised 😂 Niko was so actually respectful towards Bran’s parents, love Niko for that <33 and Levi likes him better than Kill, yayy 🥰

Tbh, To me the wait was worth it. To me it was everything and so much more. To me this is my comfort book, to me I would always go back to re-read it. To me these characters are my soulmates. To me this book was everything and will always be. 💛✨ My love for Brandon and Nikolai is unconditional. My favorites forever. 💛❤️✨🫶🏼🪷

………………………💛………………………………

Rina outdid herself with this book. I’m at a loss for words. I need a few days to process, and then I’ll write a review that this book deserves. for now 20/5 stars, absolutely BEAUTIFUL

-----NEW REVIEW (with a little hint of spoilers) -----

20000000000/5 Stars

Okay, now that I'm in the right state of mind, I will review one of my favorite books of the year.

In simple words: I loved it. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, romantic, and in some parts, it was a true rom-com. I was giggling almost every page, Nikolai is a mafia heir and comedian (that's sexy).

I don't think people understand how much I connected with Brandon. I have felt what he's felt and I've been through some of the things he's been through. And to see how he was able to fight and overcome it all with the help of Nikolai (and his family and friends too) genuinely still brings me to tears. I think we all have different ways of dealing with trauma and even though Bran went through one of the worst traumas I've read/seen, he was still kind and there for those around him. God I love him so much, he is everything. And the way he was all around the perfect guy: running for charities, helping at animal shelters, an artist, tall, rich, beautiful, loyal, and the important KIND and a good friend!! Like Nour, the little girl, was onto something because they don't make men like him anymore.

Now Nikolai,
Where do I begin? I think he is not only one of the sexiest men out there with the big body, a bike, tattoos, and piercings (my type irl LOL) but he's one of the most loyal characters I've read about. Whether it's being loyal to his sisters (we saw a lot more of in GOR), his best friend Jeremy (more like brothers), cousins, and the most important Bran. He was a teddy bear who had his own low points as well. I was glad we got to read about how Jeremy, his dad, and Bran would be there for him during those times and Bran was so accepting of it and wanted to be there for everything (here come the tears).

Niko was there for Bran as much as Bran was there for him, and couples who have each other's backs like that will always remain #1. This book was SUPER romantic!!! In some books, the characters feel like they would break up once the story was over (like no way y'all didn't get divorced after the epilogue) and there's no depth. BUT in this book, you could just tell how in love IN LOVE I N L O V E Niko and his Lotus Flower/Baby/Prince Charming were.

"Because this is our place and no one else is allowed in it." and "I can't live without you"

........Need to be sedated.

Anyway, I feel like I'm not good at putting things like emotions and all that into words, especially something that I love SO MUCH. I want to talk about every single part of this book and even then, I still won't be doing it justice. It was an amazing read and I will be rereading weekly. Wish we had the option to give it higher stars but overall, 5/5 stars. Thank you for sharing their story Rina.

(Time to think about them and cry)

I sincerely apologize for the person I'll become when this book gets published.

After GoR

Niko and Bran are so into each other. These two are killing me 😮‍💨 Niko being this whipped for Bran is everything, he even stops beating Landon for Brandon 😩 but him punching Bran, even if by mistake, isn't the scene I was expecting 💁🏻‍♀️

Rina better not push back the release for the best couple of the series or else 🔪

..........

Rina said Niko is the dominant in the bedroom. The way he's a mochi for Brandon but then... 🤭

..........

NIKOBRAN SUPREMACY 🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️
I'M WAITING FOR YOU, MY BABIES.
Best couple in the series, I said what I said. 💁🏻‍♀️
The fact I have to wait a year to read about Niko and Lotus though 🔪

The way LeviAstrid fans won. It's what they and we deserve 😌

I’ve just never been good with choices. Don’t appreciate them. Don’t care for them. Would rather not be presented with one.

God of Fury could have been 200 pages less (like all of the other books in this series), but I still had fun reading it, after getting past the first 30% or so. Some of Niko’s POV are beyond embarrassing. I don’t have to tell y’all how pathetic a guy has to be to name his dick Kolya Jr… truly pathetic pls how am I suppose to take him seriously if he just describes his wiener for a chapter straight. 4.15 GPA my ass 🥴

But besides that nikobran's relationship was fun to read, they had some cute moments together and gave me the boy obsessed hero and sunshine-grumpy tropes I was craving right now.

I spent a-lot of time trying to figure out who’s kolya is because he speaks to him a-lot but then it turned up to be his dick 🤡

who in their right frame of mind would describe a five year old’s dick and how he got hard in such detail ???? glad this book is getting cancelled before its release xx

***4.0 rating***

Audiobook rating: 5+++++++++

''Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

After hearing mixed reviews about this book, I initially had no intention of picking it up. Trusting my friends' ratings, especially when our tastes align, usually steers me away from certain reads. Additionally, apart from RK's Deception trilogy, I've found her MF books to be a mix of cringe and addictiveness, a paradox I can't quite explain. So, with the varied opinions swirling, I had no inclination to delve in. But lo and behold my bookish friends are incredibly persuasive! 😂 Despite my reluctance toward audiobooks (having only listened to 'Him' by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy), I unexpectedly found myself drawn to both the audio and the book!

The narration by Shane East and Teddy Hamilton was nothing short of exceptional! Shane, voicing Bran, captivated me with his portrayal of Bran's complexity and inner turmoil. Teddy also shone in his depiction of Niko. Together, they crafted a beautiful, angsty, and utterly compelling duet. I can't shake off my thoughts about NikoBran. The last time I felt this obsessive and passionate about a fictional couple was with Avi and Ky from 'For the Fans,' which still resides rent-free in my mind. The audio undeniably elevated my experience with GOF. Contrary to some of my book buddies who despised this book (and trust me, we had our rants about it), I found it worthwhile. Their viewpoints are valid—I understand. Certain aspects, like Chapter 3, felt cringe-worthy and odd, potentially disappointing for longtime RK readers. However, because I haven't consistently followed RK's works or read this series in order, this book resonated with me.

Skipping technically 32 books made the story feel fresh, and I have no regrets. Nikobran stole my heart, and I'm already on my second listen to the audio. Shane East's voice is mesmerizing, setting a high bar for future audiobooks.

RK should explore more MM writing; it seems fans are craving it. From what I gather, many readers are fatigued with the repetitive MF narratives.

Honestly, I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. RK's MF books never quite clicked with me. As an avid MM romance reader, I approached this with no expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised 😱.

HOLY sh*t, I am in love with Brandon + Niko's story. In my opinion, this is the best story in the entire series so far. It's so real, raw, and emotional and I couldn't put it down.

Brandon.. UGH Brandon 😭😭😭 I just wanted to blue skidoo into this book and hug him so hard. Thank god he has such an amazing family or I would've lost my sh*t.

Nikolai is the funniest f*cking character EVER. Literally EVER. So funny that Kolya is also actually a main character. IYKYK

He also is so obsessed with Brandon and loves so hard and I am just in love with their love. No one loves as hard as Niko + Brandon.

This was just beautiful. The character growth, the romance, the couple growth, the ENTIRE f*ckING THING. Rina Kent is just sooooo good at getting you so attached to these characters. I will never get over the parents chapters. EVER. They are everything to me.

Highlights
"Five thirty in the morning is my favorite time of the day until further notice."

"Want to blame me again?"
"Then blame me all you want, baby."

"I've never been addicted to anything, so I didn't realize how notoriously painful it is to go through withdrawal."

"Even if you hate yourself, I'll love you for the both of us."

-Dark College Romance
-MM
-Mafia
-Secret Romance
-Opposites Attract
-Obsessed MMC
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

4/5 ★

– GUYS IM LITERALLY CRYING!!??? I LOVE THEM SO MUCH 🥹😭 nikobran are literally the best they are so precious my babies.

– this book was so sad? like brandon's character broke my heart and he deserves the best aka niko!! I loved reading niko's pov so much (except the parts where he named his d!ck!) 😭 he is so funny and amazing and a pookie like he's this huge guy with tattoos but he's still cute and adorable to me.

– LANBRAN ARE REAL YALL. landon and brandon's relationship was AMAZING. I cried every time they talked with each other. the “i love you, little bro” scene?? tears, literally had tears in my eyes.

– the friend groups are one of my favorite things in this series, I love remi btw he deserves a freaking book. AND NIKO AND LAN TEAMING UP AT THE END?? HELL YEAH

ELIAVA NEXT 💗💗

“You taste like my new favorite addiction, baby.”

Welllll I never thought I'd see the day that my ass was giving an RK book 5 stars, BUT HERE WE ARE. I have not had a book make me neglect all my basic needs like this in a very long time, Maslow would be rolling in his grave right now. I've been waiting for Nikolai and Brandon's story for over a year now, and I am truly obsessed with them . KINGxSOKOLOV PAIRINGS 🔛🔝.

heads up, this will be more of a thrilled rant than a review, and it will have spoilers because I literally cannot contain myself.

Niko and Bran gave me everything I was searching for in the Rinaverse. Namely, Niko being the greenest red flag in history 😭. BOY WAS DOWN BAD-SICKENINGLY-OBSESSED AND I WAS HERE FOR IT (counting his lashes whilst he slept bc they were too pretty like STOP i can't). Bran is easily the most complex character RK has ever put on the page. He was so layered and was both heartbreaking and a joy to read about. Artsy sad boys and their rabid golden retriever boyfriends are my fav. They were hot, they were angsty, and you'll have to pry these 2 from my cold, dead hands.

“You’re a f*cking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers.
“Your nightmare.”
“I hate you.”
“I don’t.”
“You’re f*cking crazy.”
“About you”

One aspect of this Rina truly nailed was the push and pull element of their relationship. The tension between them was immaculate in the beginning and I was sooooo freaking giddy reading it. Kicking my feet and acting a damn fool for real. As it progressed this dynamic shifted to something sweeter and became so domestic I was literally SQUEALING. The hair drying scene?????? UNWELL! The "only for you" energy, I'm about to pass out like look at this:

“Let’s cuddle some more.”
“You like cuddling?”
“With you, I do.”

I was also super thrilled to see Bran be equally as possessive of Niko as Niko was of him. IDK WHAT TO TELL YOU GUYS THIS JUST ITCHED MY BRAIN:

🖤 “Wanna know what you look like when you come?” He speaks against my lips, his breath stroking my skin and his intense eyes swallowing me in their depths. “You look like f*cking mine.”

💛 "You look perfect marked by me. My own piece of art."
Niko plz you're killing me here

And this:

🖤 “Jealous, baby?” He doesn’t smile back as he fists my hair in a painful grip. “You belong to me, Nikolai. I do not share, are we clear?” “f*ck. I love it when you get all possessive.”

💛 "Who took my f*cking place?” “No one.”
daddy Bran 🫶🫶

BRAN TELLING NIKO HE WAS AN ARTISTS DREAM MUSE
“You’re an artist’s dream muse.”
“Then make me yours.”
He laughs.
“Maybe you already are.”

These 2 were f*cking perfect but one of my favourite things about this book was Landon. Yes, I'm a f*cking Lan apologist, sue me. But boy did he prove me right with this one. That end scene with him and Bran TORE ME TO SHREDS. Everytime he was on page he had me cackling or sobbing and im glad we got the resolution they deserved. Bran and Lan are literally the most interesting siblings shes ever written and this will break me no matter how many times I read it:

“I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living f*ck out of me.”

CALL THE f*ckING AMBULANCE I'M HYPERVENTILATING.

Ultimately though it was soft NikoBran that took me out. I'll never be the same.

🖤 “Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”

💛 "You'll kiss me?" "I'll always kiss you baby"

🖤 "Please let me hold you like this. It doesn't hurt when you touch me"

They are truly my Roman Empire.

As you can tell I loved this. Even if it wasn't perfect, it was perfect to me. It left me completely emotionally damaged from the 90% mark and I wouldn't change a thing about it.
AND FINALLY RK DISCOVERED LUBE SO THANK f*ck FOR SMALL MERCY'S. This was so refreshing from Rina, seems breaking her heteronormative BS was great for her. And a big congratulations to NikoBran for being the most genuinely in love couple in this series.

These 2 took my soul with them so I'll leave y'all with some of my fav scenes:

💛The motorbike scene
🖤A lacrosse game
💛Niko Koala carrying Bran around the penthouse
🖤"blame it on me"
💛 "call me baby"
🖤 the "on my way text"
💛 Bran painting Niko
🖤Niko giving up his shirts so Bran wouldn't be uncomfortable
💛All the soft cuddling moments
🖤The secret tattoo
💛Niko rattling off the laundry list of things he loves about Bran infront of his parents
🖤Lan and Niko teaming up like a psychotic version of the avengers.
💛 Bran and Lan being the absolute best siblings in the rk universe fr

LOG Men rankings
1. Niko/Bran
2. Lan
3. Jeremy
4. Kill
5. Creigh

reread: february 2024 🥰

“I’m going to f*cking ruin you as badly as you’ve ruined me, my lotus flower. I’ll get so far beneath your skin, you’ll never f*cking get rid of me.”

well, i'm introducing my most annotated book i've ever read and it’s a rk book? no one is more surprised than me. i'm emotionally not the same person i was before reading this. branniko consumed me and i'm not kidding when i say, i will think of them at least once a day from now on. after seeing the reviews start to come in, i was convinced i wasn't going to like this. i was full on ready to cringe and especially with all the stuff i've been seeing about niko's character (him naming his dick and talking to it constantly 😭). yes, it came across pretty cringey but i couldn't help but laugh at it. he had me cackling my ass off and eventually he became endearing to me. it was a nice change to have his laughable and lighthearted personality unlike a lot of rina's other MMCs. i can see why this has such mixed opinions, it's definitely not a perfect book and has the problematic sh*t that rina is known for. i still have my own complaints, but i just loved everything else so much that my niggles didn't matter that much.

however, if you are someone who didn't like the first books in the series that much, i still urge you to give this book a try, and do yourself a favour and listen to the audio book! it was fantastic. it had a full cast, where even in bran’s povs when niko is talking, niko’s narrator is saying the lines and vice versa. rina really put her whole soul into this book. she said this was one of her fav couples, and it definitely shows. i only wish all her books were like this.

brandon king. my absolute fav rina kent character of all time. this poor broken boy who suffered in silence, who never felt he was good enough, who didn't believe he deserved to be loved, who has lived in landon's shadow his whole life, and the struggles he had coming to terms with his sexuality. his story broke me, i cried multiple times during this for him. 💔

Only one addiction can actually lead to my decimation. One addiction forces me to forget everything else whenever he’s in my vicinity. Whenever he touches me, kisses me, f*cks me. I pretend my outer skin doesn’t exist. I’m not Brandon King. I’m not the broken entity who sees black ink instead of his reflection in the mirror. Not the weak man who’s more often than not swallowed by disgusting nausea and the terrifying notion of nothingness. I’m just me. His lotus flower. His Prince Charming. His baby.
~ niko was a safe place for bran. he even bought a penthouse just for them to spend time together bc he knew bran wanted to keep their relationship a secret. niko respected bran's boundaries but also pushed him where he needed too, maybe too much at times, but niko could see through bran like no one else. bran deserved someone who would move heaven and earth for him, and niko made that his whole personality, as he should.

also, the way bran got him niko’s groceries and ordered pastries for him all the time. that soft af scene when he blow dried niko's hair. how he helped calm the uncontrollable rage and violence inside him, how niko was finally able to sleep in a bed bc of bran. and the possessiveness and the jealousy scenes we got from bran?

“I love that I’m the only one who sees you like this, all hot and bothered and f*cking mine.”
I sink my fingers in his silky strands and tug his head back so that I’m looking down on him. “You’re mine, not the other way around.”
~ my gawddddd, a possessive main character is my favourite. but when we get TWO extremely possessive characters, and they both give the same energy?? there is literally nothing more perfect than that.

nikolai sokolov. okay so, does your man get a tattoo of a lotus flower bc that is his nickname for you (he gets it where his HEART is btw) and also tattooed underneath it "property of (your name)"?? yeah well, no one is on niko's level so... he was PROUD AF to be owned by bran. he gave the most proud boyfriend energy there is to be given.

“Jesus, f*ck, baby. You know how to make a man lose his mind.” He blows out a sharp exhale against my swollen lips.
I fist his hair tighter. “Not just any man. You.”
“Not just any man,” he repeats with a blinding possessiveness. “Me. Only f*cking me.”
“Tell me you’re mine,” I order and it’s such a low blow when he’s trapped in the cloud of lust, but I want to hear it.
“I’ve been yours since I met you, baby.” He rubs his chest against mine. “I literally have the ink to prove it.”

anyway, on a more serious note, i loved niko's character. he was unapologetically himself and despite the rage that consumed him, he was still so carefree and was a sunshine. rina brought a major twist on the grumpy sunshine trope here. the grumpy prim and proper british mmc who's the captain of the lacrosse team x the sunshine mafia prince covered in tattoos???? pls, this is my new weakness. niko needs to be violent to keep him grounded or he could snap at any moment and i loved how he never wanted to bring that onto brandon. niko even tried to separate himself from him bc of it 😭 he could never ever deal with accidentally hurting him, he would rather die first. he hated having to hide his and bran's relationship to the point where he wanted to end things, but this man could

fav moments 🥰 (picking these quotes was harder than my university exams fr)

“Can I join?”
“No.” I pause when his smile disappears, then sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not comfortable with that.”
“I’ll wait until you’re comfortable, then.” His grin returns and I want to kiss it, but I don’t, because that’s just f*cking desperate. “Thanks, baby.”
“For what?”
“For bringing me back.”
“Bringing you back from where?”
“Somewhere unpleasant.”
~ niko respecting bran's boundaries of not being comfortable showering together yet but also bran being able to ground niko. they're just too perfect for each other.

“You’ll kiss me?” he asks cautiously, hopefully, even. “I’ll always kiss you, baby.”
~ i cried at this

The kiss is sloppy at best, but it’s f*cking erotic. I’ve never kissed anyone after sex, but it’s vital with Bran. I have to kiss him to feel him. To get beneath his skin and dismantle him. Kissing had no meaning before this motherf*cker. Now, it’s the damn center of my existence.
~ i cried AGAIN

“It was my destiny to meet your son and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” There it is. The same arrogance that courses through Killian’s veins instead of blood. Bran ducks his head and smiles as he spreads an unhealthy amount of apricot jam on some toast. My heart kind of f*cking bursts.
~ this moment in levi's pov was everything. i physically was not okay reading this. if my heart could have actually burst out of my chest, it would have in this moment.

“Can you tell me what you did to make you feel that way?” “One day. I just need to get my sh*t together to be able to talk about it. Can you wait?” “Absolutely, and, baby?” He kisses the top of my head and his next words nearly give me a heart attack. “Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”
~ this is prob my fav moment in the whole book. i want to tattoo this on forehead. ”even if you hate yourself, i'll love you for the both of us.” this quote literally deserves an award. just knowing someone will be there when you are finally able to talk about it. for when you feel like sh*t and don't love yourself, but ofc, niko will always be there to love and cherish him. idk yall, but that is what i call LOVE. 😭

“I’d forgotten the entire thing until Mum mentioned it again. Jay and I are just friends and he barely has time to come back to the UK anymore.”
“So if he did have time, things would be different?”
“No. You know why?”
“Because I wouldn’t allow it?”
“Because I never wanted a prince. I prefer an unhinged motherf*cker.”
“Hey! That’s me!” I grin so wide, I can see my reflection in his bright eyes.
~ always the unhinged mofo >>>>>>>>

Tattooed arms wrap around my waist from behind before Nikolai’s chin rests on my shoulder. I didn’t even notice when he changed position and slipped behind me.
“You’re the most beautiful thing on earth,” he whispers against my neck, peppering kisses there as he meets my gaze in the mirror.
“I’m lucky you allowed me in your life.” Kiss. “I’m lucky you love me.” Kiss. “I’m lucky you’re letting me fight your demons with you.”
~ CRYING SOBBING THROWING UP MY HEART COULD NOT HANDLE THIS 😭😭😭😭😭

My gaze follows the cum that spills out of him, trickling down his thighs and smearing his balls and spent co*ck. I kneel behind him, pull his ass cheeks apart, and feast on the cum, licking and f*cking it back inside him. “Niko…what are you… Oh f*ck… Jesus…f-fuuuck.” He wiggles, but I slam a hand on his lower back to keep him in place. “Stay still, baby. We can’t waste any cum.”
~ just going to leave this here....😳

there was so many amazing things we got in this book:
🖤 niko going to bran's lacrosse game and cheering for him
💛 did i mentioned that NIKO COUNTED BRAN'S EYELASHES WHEN HE WAS SLEEPING so he knows exactly how many are on each of bran's eyes????
🖤 seeing brandon and landon repair their relationship
💛 the "baby" pet names
🖤 niko and landon teaming up to get revenge for bran. that has got to be one of the MOST satisfying things i've ever read.
💛 PUSH AND PULL PERFECTION
🖤 niko marking bran with hickies but niko giving his shirt to make him feel more comfortable
💛 bran finally be able to draw eyes again and they were niko's 🥺
🖤 touch them and die x2
💛 smutty goodness
🖤 rollercoaster of emotions and angst
💛 secret relationship 😩

and honestly....the list goes on. def one of my favs of this year and will be a constant reread for me. i may regret saying this, but i'd like to see rina do another MM or FF in the future. it's honestly a crime that gareth and kayden are apparently not getting a book?? this book has a lot of triggering themes, so please check TWs if you need too!