Review: Revenge And Honor by Lia Lamar
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Content Warning
This novel includes references to past sexual assault, graphic violence, emotional abuse, coercion, and explicit sexual scenes.
Morally grey mafia man, solid plot… but the pacing and chemistry didn’t always hit—so was it worth the read? 👀
My Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC Review
(Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)
I liked it… I didn’t love it… and I have thoughts. 😏
This one is… complicated.
I went in ready for a dark mafia romance moment, and while there were parts I really enjoyed, there were also a few things that kept me from fully falling head over heels.
🖤 The Good Stuff (Because There Is Some)
Let’s start with what worked.
The plot? Solid. There are twists, turns, and enough intrigue to keep you flipping pages. I stayed engaged the whole time, and for me—that says a lot.
The mafia element was done well. Lots of tension, lots of danger, and a world that felt gritty enough to satisfy that dark romance craving.
And then we have Carlo… our morally grey man.
He starts exactly how I like them—dangerous, villainous, unapologetic. I loved that he didn’t immediately soften and stayed true to that darker edge for a good portion of the book. (Would I have preferred him to stay that way a little longer? Yes. Yes, I would.)
I also appreciated the character growth. Watching Emily slowly find her strength and take ownership of her situation was a highlight for me.
😬 The Not-So-Great
Now let’s get into the parts that pulled me out a bit.
The beginning felt confusing and rushed. I almost wish it had been written as a prologue with more depth, especially when it came to Emily’s trauma. Some of the backstory felt surface-level, and I had a hard time fully connecting to it.
There were also moments where the dialogue just didn’t land for me. Certain interactions between Carlo and Emily felt off, which made it harder to fully buy into their chemistry.
And speaking of that… the chemistry itself was a bit hit or miss.
At times I felt it, and at other times I didn’t.
The story also jumps around quite a bit, and with a larger cast of characters, I found myself occasionally confused—like I had missed a piece of the puzzle somewhere.
⚡ Pacing & That Ending
The pacing overall is quick—almost too quick in some places.
The final twist and climax? It had potential. I just wish it had been developed more. It all happens toward the very end and wraps up pretty fast, and I would have loved more buildup, more tension, more drama.
Give me the chaos. Make me feel it.
💋 Overall Vibe
This felt like a lighter dark romance—if that makes sense. For someone like me who reads very dark and intense books, this actually worked as a bit of a palate cleanser.
It’s easy to read, doesn’t require a ton of emotional investment, and still keeps you entertained.
💭 Final Thoughts
This was one of those reads where I can genuinely say I enjoyed it, even if it wasn’t perfect.
It had a strong foundation, a morally grey hero I wanted more of, and enough intrigue to keep me interested. With a bit more depth, smoother pacing, and stronger execution, this could have easily been a higher rating for me.
That said…
Will I continue the series?
👉 Absolutely.
Because you know I’m always here for mafia men, chaos, and the hope that the next book hits even harder. 😈🔥
If you’re into dark mafia romance but want something a little easier to digest, this might be one to add to your list.
Now tell me… do we like our mafia men softening up, or staying dangerous to the very end? 💋📚
🌟🌟🌟 3/5 Stars from this “Good Girl”
