Debase Review

Debase by Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis: Provided by Goodreads

From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken, comes the final book in the Eagle Elite Series and the first new book in the Elite Bratva Brotherhood...

With blood on my hands, I held her.
With death in my soul, I took from her.
With the devil in my heart, I coveted her.

There're many definitions of Hell.
My list was exhaustive, my definitions tragic.
Tonight I was adding something new to the very top.
Girl number six thirty-two.

She arrived on my birthday, the same day, every year, I play Russian Roullete and pull the trigger.
She was my omen.
My end game.
She made it personal.
And for the first time in my life, I gave in.
A virgin mob boss with no soul.

My name is Andrei Petrov.
They call me the devil.
All I want is for the pain to end.
All she wants is for me to share it.

I am the last remaining heir to a dynasty that should burn in Hell.
And my last wish remains for it to die with me.

My Review:

Rating: 4 Stars

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the last book of the Eagle Elite series and the first book in the Elite Bratva Brotherhood Series. This book follows Andrei, the Russian Mob boss who works along side the Italians. This book was darker than the others and as Rachel grows as a writer, her books show that. I was hesitant to start this, because when I was reading the Eagle Elite series I was not a huge fan of Andrei. Rachel changed that. She creates these characters that you think are just jerks and shows the broken pieces of them that make you fall in love and want to protect. If you read Phoenix's book, Andrei is very similar to Phoenix with how broken he is. Seeing the trauma that Andrei went through I understood why he was the way he was and how much he hated that part of him. I love that the Italian men we have come to love play a big role in this book and even though it is the start of a new series I would highly suggest reading the Eagle Elite Series before you start this one to help you understand why they hate the DeLanges and just getting to know the Italian men. Andrei's friendship with the Italian men is hilarious and adds a lightness to this book that was needed.

Now the romance. The romance is not sugar coated, it's raw and real. "That's the thing about love. We don't fall in love with the perfect person; we fall in love despite a person's imperfections." Neither Alice nor Andri are perfect, but they are perfect for each other. Alice goes into the relationship with Andrei knowing that he is a beast and not a good guy. I'm glad Rachel didn't write Alice with her eyes closed to all the evils of the world because if she did Alice would not be the right woman for Andrei. Their relationship is intense and at times frustrating. 

Overall, this was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to see where Rachel takes all these characters. She has set up the next book perfectly and I am excited to see what she has in store for everyone.