Beautiful Savage

Dark Empire #2

(also called The Boys of Sinners Bay #2)

By Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

~ Do not recommend reading as a standalone ~

~ Should be read with Beautiful Carnage first ~

TheStory

After discovering his entire life has been a lie, Nicoli Vitoli (now known as Angelo Romero), has escaped to a cabin in the woods. Coming up on his one year sabbatical, he discovers a woman nearly frozen to death in the woods.

The woman in question, named “Winter” by Nicoli, escaped a group of men that held her captive and tortured her for over 18 months. 

When Nicoli takes her back to the cabin, the two form a truce that blossoms into a friendship that turns into so much more. But her capture was part of a much larger secret than either of them two even know. Now, Winter wants revenge… and Nicoli will help her get it.

TheReview

This. book… gave me all the feels! It’s so sweet and gentle but also vengeful and murdery.

The first half is Nicoli and Winter forming their bond. The second half is that bond solidifying. The third half (okay, so it’s all thirds!) everything turns into an absolute dumpster fire. In the best way. 

I loved the beginning because it was so romantic and loving. Both of them were healing from their trauma. Figuring out the other’s baggage. And deciding to deal with it. The second part was so good because that healing and bonding deepened and the characters grew so much.

It was as though everything that ever happened to Nicoli happened so that he could be prepared for Winter. Everything he ever did and all the things he learned in his life led to this particular moment with this particular girl. And that felt so natural. The authors didn’t even have to say it. The reader could just feel it. Like it was all worth it for Nicoli to find Winter and be able to truly help her.

But that third part… Holy. Cow. The last part was so full of twists and surprises that I couldn’t put the dang book down. Everything was enthralling me. Was it a little unrealistic? Maybe. But I can fully ignore some lacking realism to enjoy the read. So that’s what I did!

I wanted so badly to like Nicoli in the last book but I just couldn’t tell if he was really going to wind up a good guy or not. WELL! All of my questions about who he really is were completely answered - above and beyond - in this one. I think I might be in love with him.

Just a poor, damaged, little (not so little), sad boy turned grumpy mountain man. heart eyes bugging out of my head

And Winter?

The damaged, beaten, damsel in distress turned blood thirsty little savage hell bent on murdering her tormentors. Yes, please. I want to be her when I grow up.

Her nickname in my head is “tiny murder goblin” because that’s totally the vibe she was giving me. 

And her inability to speak because of the TORTURE?! That she escaped her captors just to be plagued by them every day in many ways, but particularly in her lost voice. That’s horrific on it’s own, but adding her mistaken belief that she is somehow unworthy of being wanted or of having her man? My heart just melted for her. 

Nicoli needed Winter to see the bigger purpose in life. But Winter needed Nicoli to be able to direct her fierceness and strong-willed desires properly. She didn’t want to be treated softly or carefully. She wanted to experience everything that was denied to her because of her captivity coupled with her memory loss. 

Seeing her and Nicoli overcome their pasts was truly so heartwarming and deeply satisfying. It wasn’t just about the romance. It was about their internal struggles and deep trauma being directly relevant to how they approached each other and how they could be approached themselves. 

Okay, I’m done ranting about my love of these characters.

Basically, I leave you with…

I fell in love and then my head exploded.

ProminentTropes

Morally Grey MMC & FMC

“Touch her and die”

“Who did this to you?”

Forced Proximity

Slow Burn

Lumberjack

TheRating

Storyline: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Side Characters: 4/5

World Building: N/A

Writing: 5/5

Overall: 📘📘📘📘📘

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dark Empire Series

Beautiful Carnage

Dark Empire #1

Beautiful Savage

Dark Empire #2