Gorgeous conclusion to the Brutal Birthright series. Loved finally getting Seb’s story. This was heartbreaking, beautiful, and full of passion.

Heavy Crown was a spectacular finale to the Brutal Birthright series. Seeing characters from previous books come back, while others had their stories wrapped up. It was a fantastic culmination of all the storylines, while simultaneously opening new ones for the Kingmaker series. While you can read most of this series out of order, I highly recommend saving this one for last. Its impacts are most powerful when it is read as the finale.

I was always curious how the Kingmaker series would be set up, to make it a logical next phase of this world that was set up in Brutal Birthright. The end of Heavy Crown certainly starts to set up the next series, and in a way that it seems like a natural progression. The Heir is on my TBR for January 2024!

I find it extremely fitting that my 200th book of 2023 is also my 50th review on NetGalley and also the final book of the Brutal Birthright series. I first read Sophie Lark's work through NetGalley and will continue to read through her backlog, she is a new favorite author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for a free digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a bit rough! This was my first Sophie Lark book and so it's to be said I haven't read any of the other books in this series so take my review with that in mind. I'm coming in blind!

I found the premise of Heavy Crown to be pretty interesting. I love a good mafia book every now and then if they don't get too too dark. I wouldn't say Heavy Crown was darker than any other mafia book I've read. Lots of killing and mentions of drug rings, prostitution, illegal gambling businesses, etc.

The characters were a bit dull. I liked Sebastian in the beginning. I thought he was very sweet if a bit naive. When things go down and he gets his revenge I thought he was not being super smart just flying by the seat of his pants. Yelena is described as being a fierce fighter but this couldn't be further from the truth. I felt bad for her but she was continuously under her father's thumb, and always obeyed him and when things went south with Sebastian it was like she traded her submissiveness to him. That basement scene was basically emotional manipulation, it was so toxic. Their other sex scenes felt stilted and not much chemistry was flowing.

I did like the relationship between Sebastian and Miko, they seem like they could really cause some ruckus together and their wives becoming friends too was cute. Like I said this is the only book of the series I've read but from my standpoint this family isn't that strong. It felt like all the siblings were separating and not really rallying around one another. It makes it seem like this so called powerful mafia family was kind of weak. Just kind of off putting for what's to be the end of this series.

Overall I liked the promise of what this book was supposed to be but it just didn't meet my expectations. I would give the author another chance and maybe start at the beginning of one of her other series and see how that goes. Thanks so much to Bloom Books for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley.

I love this book and hate it. To start off I love how this is a conclusion to this world. A conclusion to these characters that we have been following. However, I feel like the reason I hate it. Is mainly because Sebastian has gone on this whole journey and in the end he became what he tried to avoid. Which just broke me.

(3.25★)

 “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚.”

Dark romance Heavy Crown by Sophie Lark centers on mafioso Sebastian Gallo and pianist Yelena Yenina.

I was hooked from the start of this book, especially after finishing chapter two. I had to search up spoilers because, of course, I could not take Sophie’s teasing and was bracing myself for the worst. Honestly, Sophie's writing style and overall plot was such a mndfuck.

So much happened in this book. In one chapter, Sebastian was so hot and protective that I couldn't help but fall even more in love with him. But I would despise Yelena's family by the next chapter.

However, given everything that transpired, I had anticipated Yelena to do more groveling. I simply felt that she didn't do enough for Sebastian's forgiveness, and that Sebastian was being stupid by forgiving her immediately.

Despite not being as fond of this book as I was of the previous two, I still found it to be far more enjoyable to read about Sebastian and Yelena because they were such compelling characters.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and to the author, Sophie Lark, for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.*

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
5/5 🎧

This was such a fantastic finale to great series. I loved Sebastian and Yelena so much, they're story was dark and heartbreaking, but the way they came together and rose above it all was so good. I loved how strong Yelena was despite her father treating her like little more than dirt on his shoe with a hymen to trade away... Sebastian went through so much and was still always so optimistic and happy, I adored him and the way he loved Yelena so much.

The audio was great. I absolutely loved Michael Gallagher and Kat Auden was fantastic. Kat's accent was great, I didn't have to slow it down to process her narration, but her accent was still thick and believable.

The epilogue sets up the next series, The Kingmakers, and I'm so excited to reread that series as well. The second gen is one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great book and Sophia Lark is becoming a favorite author of mine! She writes such wonderful characters.

“I wish life were always easy,” I say. Sebastian kisses me again. “If it were, then it wouldn’t be our life.”

Okay so, this was a fast paced and interesting read. The writing as usual was very engaging and the side characters were solid. But I did not really feel the connection between Sebastian & Yelena until after the 50% mark. The insta-love was what ruined the first half for me, ngl. One second, Sebastian is rescuing Yelena and the next, there's talks about their marriage after they've confessed their love, which was pretty unrealistic. But the second half, where the betrayal was discovered, was good and served some angst. Other than that, the plot was pretty predictable and basic. Overall, it was an enjoyable read but nothing extraordinary tbh.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange of an honest review

Heavy Crown is the sixth and final book of the Brutal Birthright series and is Sebastian’s story. What a great ending to an epic series! Sophie has knocked it out of the ballpark again! I have loved Sebastian since the first book and my heart was broken for him in that book. I couldn’t wait for his story and it did not disappoint! I freaking love Sebastian and Yelena! Their love for me another was absolutely beautiful. Sebastian might be the youngest but he is the strongest and in my opinion had the most character growth out of any of the characters in this series. This book hit me in all my feeling and even had me crying! I love when a book is so emotional that I feel such a connection with the characters. It’s the best feeling and the ending of this series could have been any better!

I have enjoyed reading this entire series and I think this was the perfect ending. It was steamy and wrapped up the story very well while leaving room for a spin off series.
Thank you for the e arc

Sebastian and Yelena were not my favorite story in the Birthright series by far. I enjoyed this book for the most part. It’s been impossible for me to find a Sophie Lark book I didn’t enjoy reading, not that I’ve been trying. I didn’t like the way the dungeon scene played out. Definitely wish I had seen the TW’s for that but that’s my own fault. You are responsible for the media you choose to consume and I failed to check the TW’s. But besides that the story was good, just not the great “bang” to be expected from Sophie being the final book in this series. I did however add a few quotes to my ever growing list of favorite book quotes.
“There’s no pleasure quite like reading, is there? Sometimes it’s the only thing that eases my mind.”
“How can you love someone so much, and also resent them?”
“I wish I ran away with her the day I met her”

I received the Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Sebastian and was pleased to see a lot more about him in this finale to the series! You will see a lot of action and it really goes out with a bang.

Sebastian and Yelena have an instalove attraction. They are both seeking escape and purpose in their life when their worlds collide.

There was a lot of character development and mafia world building which slowed the plot down a little but there’s certainly enough action to make up for that.

I am so excited to hear of a new spin off series in the world, hinted towards a mafia version of hog warts?! Say what! This can’t be real and if so I cannot WAIT to read it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom books for allowing me to read this book!