Review: Enrage by Rachel Van Dyken

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Part of a world I loathe.

Part of a family who hates me more than I hate myself.

Living with a girl who reminds me of my darkness.

I'm. In. Hell.

Also known as the Cosa Nostra.

My life was over the minute I stepped off that plane.

Son to a murdered mob boss.

Heir to a throne of murder and lies.

My name is Dante Nicolasi.

And there will be blood.

Review

4.5 out of 5 stars

Blood in, no out.  It is a simple concept.  Family first, always.  But when it comes to the mafia, is anything really easy or black and white?  I don't think so.  Everyone knows that we love the Italian mafia men in Eagle Elite and I knew going into Enrage that it was going to be filled with emotion.  I had it on my kindle for 2 weeks before I had the guts to open it.  I was so scared to read it because I knew that something big would be going down in this book.  You could feel it from page one, so I worked up the nerve, made a big pan of lasagna in honor of my favorite fictional characters and dove the rest of the way into Enrage.

Dante Nicolasi is so angry.  While he didn't ask to be a part of the mafia he also wasn't really ever given the choice not to.  His twin sister Val is now married to Sergio Abandonato, so there's definitely no way to escape the world, thereofore it's imperative Dante find a way to embrace his role in a world he cannot control.  When you can't control your own destiny, you learn to fight and completely turn off your conscience.  Dante is a very intriguing character, I really was not sure how well I was going to connect to him, but I love where Rachel went with him.

El was abused and should be dead.  If it were up to the Russians she would be 6 feet under right now.  But for some reason, Frank Alfero saved her and saw how much she was abused by her former (dead!) husband.  But living with the Italian mob is not much better.  She constantly is waiting for someone to mistreat her.  She is terrified of everything.  Dante and El could not be more opposite of each other.  Good thing opposites attract!

Honestly, it is difficult to write a review for a book that you loved that is spoiler free.  Did this book make me cry? Hell yes. But, it also created a turning point for the characters.  I know this is the 8th book in the series, but I will never get tired of these characters.  I love each and every one of them and feel like I am part of their world when I read their stories.  I know that Rachel really wants to create a way for people to be able to start the series from the next book and you can certainly do that if you want, however, I personally think you will be missing out.  The mafia is complicated and their plots and stories weave a tangled web.  If you don't read all the books, I just don't see how you would be as emotionally connected to the characters and that is why I enjoy reading this particular series.  Honestly, if I don't have a connection with the characters then I almost always don't enjoy it.  

Enrage was an amazing read and you should most definitely one click it now.  But be prepared for twists, turns, new revelations and some anger.  Cause I am still pissed at a character and I finished the book hours ago.  Job well done, Rachel!

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