Senseless

DNF @ 19% - and another hard lesson in “read samples before you buy, or at least start reading before the return period closes”

I can't do it. This is just too ridiculous. All the characters have basically the same voice, and that voice comes across as a child trying to sound like a big, tough mobster might. The entire thing reads like a child doing pretend-play - like that one guy in school who told all the impossible, made-up tales about how he knew mafia people and was big and tough because he thought doing so would buy him friends and popularity.

The writing isn't good - seriously, it's so grating in style and (lack of) flow. The characters aren't distinct or entertaining. And the events thusfar have been absolutely nonsensical. For example: why would a mafia man's security not check for weapons on a guy who came in with his sworn enemy? They used to be friends, but then this guy did something so heinous that he was ex-communicated. Surely the security detail knows? Honestly, there's no point to having bodyguards if you don't give them the most basic of information such as no longer trusting a guy you now hate. And a 9mm gun isn't impressive. It's also so absurdly non-descript that it should've just been left as “a gun” or “a handgun” because the wide variety of makes, models, sizes, etc. available that shoot 9mm ammo means this is useless as a descriptor. If you're going to make my brain parse numerals in the flow of prose, at least have a good reason for doing so!

I know I'm in a reading slump, but I've gotta have standards. And my standards tell me that I made the right call back in September 2019 when I immediately tapped out after starting to read this one and went on to other books. Now that I finally picked it back up, I can see it's not worth the time or effort.

The fact the brothers with a significant age gap are having an incestuous relationship only sealed the DNF deal for me - more specifically because the older brother has this ‘oh I shouldn't force you to be with me' martyr complex (which doesn't stop him from pursuing) while also romanticizing the ‘innocence' his brother has. The combination is sickening and completely eradicates my ability to shrug and go ‘it's just fiction' due to the emotional impact it has on me. (Which isn't me judging anyone who can dismiss it as just fiction; that's just a personal limit of mine.)