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Mafia Royals #4

Fallen Royal

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A mafia romance about betrayal and faith by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.

"The truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie hurts forever."—Ryan Bigge

I grew up knowing it would happen one day.
Believing that I would fall into my father's footsteps and become a monster of my own making.

So I fought it.
I lived.
I loved.
I teased.
And then one day… I destroyed.
And realized I loved the pain.
Obsessed over the feeling.
So I cut again and again and again.

She saw my rage, my madness, and tried to stop me from destroying myself, and I hated her for it, pushing her away past the point of no return.
Izzy Abandonato was supposed to be mine.
But there are some things people can never come back from. I hurt her, she hurt me, and now I'm living a lie. Telling the ones I love that I'm on one side when for years I've been forced to play both.

I'm not the hero.
I'm the villain.
And I may single-handedly bring down the Cosa Nostra—by default.

I, Maksim Sinacore, will have my vengeance.
I will win her back.
Even if it means I have to kill everyone in my path.
The pain masks the betrayal.
I never realized that one day—I'd be the very rat that I hated. That I was sent to kill. But once you're deep in a lie—you'll do anything to hide the truth.

She fell for the bad one.
She fell for the sinner.
So why does that make me smile?

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2021

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About the author

Rachel Van Dyken

169 books18.2k followers
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances.

Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
February 1, 2022
A very different kind of Mafia story!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🥵🥵🥵
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📒
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 👩🏻🧑🏼‍🦱👩🏻‍🦱👱🏻‍♂️🦸🏼‍♂️

The heroine: Izzy Abandonato - Has been in love with Maksim since they were ten years old. They both love learning and loved being together. Izzy is the twin sister to Asher (the enforcer of their family) and their father is Chase Abandonato who is both a mafia boss and a Senator.

The Hero(es): Maksim Sinacore - heir to the Sinacore thrown (Cosa Nostra). His father is Alexei who has both Petrov and Sinacore, a mixing of the oldest Italian Mafia Family and the brutal Russian Mafia. Maksim was finally asked to step up and be a killer for the family like his father and Maksim didn’t think he could do it. He and Izzy were both into science and math not violence.

The Story: Maksim took some measures to be able to step into his fathers shoes and and the fallout from what he did broke him and Izzy apart. He started seeing other girls and broke her heart. They are still in college at Eagle Elite but Maksim hasn’t been right since that first night he was asked to kill.

This was a terrific book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It had romance, love, steam, suspense and internal turmoil. It had a damaged Hero who tried so hard to be what everyone expected and wanted him to be that he tore himself apart and became a monster. But you couldn’t help but love him the more for it.

I will have to admit that this series shows all the parents and the children as a pretty blood thirsty bunch of individuals and you can definitely see that many of them aren’t necessarily all there. But they deal with what they have been exposed to since they were children in different ways, including fighting, sparring enough to make each other bruised and bloody, pulling knives on each other and other people, and even getting into gunfights at times.

Maksim and Izzy were anomalies in the family in that they were more interested in studying than in being mafia leaders. Though we see in this book that their outward appearances hide very deep individuals. It was the best of the bunch so far, but I can’t wait to read King’s story as well.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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Profile Image for Abstract ♥ Books.
1,203 reviews1,654 followers
February 3, 2022



ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS

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Web-Photo-Editor “You want to know my story? Hers? Ours? Then start at the beginning when everything went to shit. And I killed my own love story with their bullet.”


Star Rating : 5/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : None

Hero : Maksim

Heroine : Izzy

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 8/10

Heat Rating : 6/10

Triggers Involved : Past Trauma

Plot Summary :
Maksim Sinacore fell for Izzy Abandato when they were just kids. And it was the same for Izzy. Both of them thought that they would have a happy ever after until tragedy struck.

Izzy doesn't know what went wrong. All she knows is that the boy she has always loved and the one who was supposed to be her forever, just forgot her like any other girl he had been with. The pain of seeing him with others will never lessen and neither will the pain of him abandoning her. So she hates him. All they have is their hate to give because they know that the love they have for each other won't ever survive. Maksim has secrets that Izzy doesn't know and if it were up to him, she never would. But that's not how life works. And when his deeds come to light, it might just be the final end of them both.

Web-Photo-Editor “The scars left by Maksim Sinacore— were eternal. Here to stay. Even when he was long gone.”


Overall Opinion :
Holy shit. THIS ONE IS THE BEST ONE YET. I AM NOT KIDDING. THIS SEEMS TO BE MY MANTRA BUT HOLY SHIT, THIS BOOK IS LITERALLY THE BEST ONE YET OF THIS Series!!

I am telling you when I first got a whiff of the fact that Maksim and Izzy will get a book, I thought it would be the regular second chance mafia romance because they clearly had a lot of issues to work Out. But omg, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS LEVEL OF MIND FUCK. I was literally blinking back tears while reading this book and let me tell you that I am not someone who cries while reading my books. I am usually like, Meh this is sad but nothing makes me cry!!! The concept that the author had introduced in this book is something with which I have read a few books of but it's as shocking as it is in every read of mine. And the way Rachel had spun the tale, trust me you won't be able to guess what the actual fuck is happening is here. She will keep you at the edge of your seat and won't let you go until you turn the last page! I never knew what I signed up for but damn, this book was honestly not what I was expecting. It was so much more and in just a few chapters, this became a top read of mine!

Definitely recommending this book to all the dark mafia romance loving people. It's a high school romance with young characters. It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading it in order to avoid major spoilers of the past books.

Web-Photo-Editor “She always makes me react. Because I love her. Because I hate her too. Because she drives me insane. Yet makes me calm. She’s my storm.”


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Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
1,913 reviews890 followers
October 6, 2021
ALL THE FEELINGS!!! This series just keeps getting better and better- more emotionally chaotic, more emotionally riveting, more epically romantic, and more consuming. Fallen Royal is a beautifully existential journey- one at the nexus of hope and despair, will and resolution, fate and love. I read this easily in one sitting, and I’ve not stopped thinking about Maksim and Izzy since.

I can’t say much about this plot, but it was gripping and unexpected. Nothing like I’m used to for this series- but that is its charm. Maskim- OH my sweet, broken, brilliant and mysterious Maksim. I had no idea how much he would consume my heart. But the way he loves Izzy, the way he’s willing to break both himself and her, to break both their hearts to keep her safe and whole- well, it did things to me. The sacrifice he makes is unparalleled, unimaginable, and so breathtaking. His journey is by far my favorite of the series to date- the unconditional love, the angst, the tortured complexity, the pain and the ever fleeting hope.

Izzy isn’t outshone, however. Her story is quieter, more contained and steady, but nonetheless powerful. I loved her fire- her unbreakable spirit despite her deeply fractured heart. She stood her ground. Maks sacrifices to honor their love, and Izzy refuses to let go to honor their love. It’s an intoxicating tension, and in the end, it’s her unwavering fortitude that saves it. I loved how she accepts and embraces Maks, even when he struggles to accept and embrace himself. But it’s her love that’s the catalyst to this epic conclusion- one that I never thought possible, but one most welcomed.

Every book in this amazing Eagle Elite second generation mafia series surprises me more and more- not only each story and couple unique in their complexity, but the narratives themselves evolve to match the tone and tenor of the romance. I’ve always felt RVD has a bit of an impressionistic type writing style- her stories are all about emotional substance, the ENERGY of the story, rather than the specifics. She’s been known to quickly drop you into an already unfolding drama- with us as readers often entering a couple’s story mid journey, in the bitter challenges, rather at the sweet beginnings. And my does that approach really work for Maksim and Izzy’s story- it gives the book an incredibly disciplined focus, we have very little extraneous action or details. The experience is a psychologically and emotionally immersive one as the result- we’re entirely consumed by the dynamic between these two troubled lovers, the depth of their devotion to one another, and the mysterious circumstances that have created the tension and divide between them. It’s highly emotional, incredibly consuming, and powerfully emotive. All of the elements I love about an RVD story are here- the angsty, dark intensity we adore, but the emotional intimacy of it truly stands apart. It’s emotionally complicated and messy- yet somehow spiritual and centered all at once.

I’m so anxious for King’s story- and while I have all sorts of anticipatory ideas, I know better than to make predictions with this series. I just know I’m not ready to say goodbye to this amazing world and the consuming characters. These stories are captivating, complex, intense, and unpredictable-and I can’t get enough! But this story is hands down my favorite so far- Maksim and Izzy own my heart. Until my heart stops beating.
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews847 followers
October 9, 2021
5 “Captivating” Stars

This story really had my mind reeling, from the very beginning to the very end. There is romance, turmoil, secrecy, friendship, heartbreak, violence, and eventually healing. I felt so many different emotions for Maksim and Izzy that I couldn’t put the book down. I just had to know…….

I will say that writing a review is alittle hard because I don’t want to spoil the story. It should be experienced raw and in the moment. I will say that I loved Maksim and Izzy and their very tumultuous journey. I wouldn’t expect anything less for them but still, it was hard at times. Going from friends to lovers isn’t the easiest when the parents have said that there is no dating within the families.

This story has crazy twists and turns, highly emotional angst, and a captivating creative storyline. There is also humor and sarcasm and all the rest of the 2nd generation kids that makes the story all the more dynamic. And the set up for King’s story has me all excited and scared because I know it will be a crazy exhilarating ride.

*advanced copy provided by Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Dali.
1,923 reviews545 followers
October 4, 2021
An angsty and emotional roller coaster ride.

Fallen Royal is a forbidden mafia romance that follows Izzy Abandonato and Maksim Sinacore, two mafia heirs who’ve been in love even before they knew what romantic love was. But they don’t just have to face the consequences of going against the Family’s rules, Maksim has a deep dark secret that may end them before they even have a real chance to start.

What I liked:
- The angst and drama between Izzy and Maksim was heart-breaking. It was clear they were soulmates and I really wanted them to figure out how to be together.
- The reason behind Maksim’s hesitancy to be with Izzy was very original. I’ve read very few books with this premise.
- I really liked Izzy’s spirit. She’s strong, independent, sarcastic and very practical.
- I’m a sucker for epigraphs and the ones here were absolutely perfect for the story.
- Rachel’s writing is always incredibly hooking. I loved the fast pace and found myself engrossed in the story.

What didn’t work for me:
- I missed the tension and build up to their romantic climax. There’s very little shifting of feelings as Izzy and Maksim have been in love since they were around eleven years old and are past the stage of intimacy when the story starts.
- The resolution to a couple of problems felt glossed over
- I like my romances to be smexy and even though I loved a certain, very sensual element that’s uncommon in the romances I read, when the time came for Izzy and Maksim to seal the deal, we get a quick and almost faded out scene.
- There were a lot of secondary characters from past books that would be confusing to someone new to the series.

Fallen Royal is book #4 of the Mafia Royals series by Rachel Van Dyken. It is told from both points of view with a HEA. Genres: NA Romance. Tropes: mafia romance | forbidden romance

𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆:⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3FfHQ67

* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *

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Profile Image for ✨ Lucy ✨.
327 reviews96 followers
October 9, 2021
“I have become the very thing I have always feared, and I have nobody to blame but myself.”


I don’t even know where to begin… I’m still shocked.

I didn’t think someone could even remotely come close to Ash but I was so wrong.

Maksim wreaked my world! I’m completely overwhelmed by emotions, that I can’t even give a name to.

This story is just too passionate, too explosive too everything .

“All I know was that I felt like if I didn’t hold him close, he’d disappear, and him being out of my life,as much as I wanted to throat punch him–felt like a tragedy I wasn’t sure I’d survive.”


This story is so emotional I was on the edge the entire time, and I loved every second of it.

Maksim and Izzy really played a number on my heart.

I don’t wanna say anything about the story line, you should be catapulted in their world without a parachute . I think this is the best way to really understand and feel deeply everything that went down in this story.

“We live for today because we aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow.That’s how we deal with it. We live.”


I’ll just tell you this: You should definitely buckle up because ,like with all the others mafia royals ,you’ll gonna go on a crazy ride and you won’t survive this time!

I gave it absolutely 523457246 stars
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I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did!

*ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
Profile Image for BookSmackedMel.
916 reviews371 followers
October 1, 2021
WTF Rachel !!!!! I found myself repeating that over and over as I read this book.

Seriously though Buckle up, RVD will torture the ever loving sanity out of you with Fallen Royal.
I'm seriously refraining from leaving too many curse words in this review. Don't get it twisted I lived for every moment. I wanted to jump into this book and reign hell on Maxsim Sinacore more than once. And I was glued to the pages.

This book gave me all the OG Eagle Elite feels, and Rachel didn't hold back with the emotional feels in this book. This was definitely a surprise for me, I honestly didn't expect all this Angst and with every chapter it felt like Rachel was reaching into my heart to try and rip it out. Like girl, why you gotta do me like this !!!!!


RVD also has me wanting to google things which might make someone looking at my search history look at me in a different light. LOL you will know what I mean when you read this book.

Dare I say this is my fav book out of these series so far.

Emotionally gripping, Fallen Royal will have you biting your nails.

PSA: You will curse out loud while reading this book. It's almost a guarantee. If you don't yell What the Fuck at least once then you should seek professional help. (Disclaimer, this is clearly a joke, I am not in any capacity to offer any sort of sound advice) But for real, I'm still cursing.

You gotta watch out for those nice authors, they will try to gut you with their books. Geez Rachel !!!

WTF !!!!!





Profile Image for Beatrice.
1,155 reviews1,714 followers
October 18, 2021
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

My mafia loving soul has been resurrected! Maksim Sinacore and Izzy Abandonato's much awaited story is a whirlwind romance. My favorite nerds hold a special place in my heart but you know the rules. Their parents forbid the kids to date within the family or they'll face a punishment. Let's say Maksim suffered a trauma and kept his secret most especially to Izzy, his childhood best friend and soulmate.

Those two are meant for each other. Such tight knit friendship is unbreakable until their heart stops beating. My goodness. I badly want to hug them for going through a rough journey. The steamy scenes here are lesser than the previous books and centered more on Maksim's. The plot needs to be fleshed out because everything happened swiftly. It needs more build considering there's a new family coming in the way. So far, this series is doing good and I hope RVD will drop a bomb on the final book.
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,415 reviews85 followers
October 29, 2021
***4 "Until my heart stops beating!!!" stars***

!AVAILABLE NOW!



"I'll hate you... until your heart stops beating."

To say to you that I was expecting how this story turned out after all, I will blatantly lie to you.
I have a weakness toward this bunch and even though, very often, they seem unreal, honestly, I don't care... I'm just enjoying their crazy adventures and I just want to read more and more about them...

"They've all sacrificed enough; it's finally my turn to bleed."

Maksim and Izzy were kind of anomalies on this crazy mafia bunch... They were toward science, so imagine my surprise when I saw a different side of both of them, especially Maksim's...
They were in love since they were kids and even though there was this rule that the heirs couldn't get involved between them, they never back down for being together...
But lately, something changed between them... Maksim changed and he had broken Izzy's heart!!!
But their hearts are still beating for each other and will they manage to stay away for good???

"He'd turned from my best friend, my everything -into someone I no longer recognized."

Well, I enjoyed this story very much, even though it was kind of confusing most of the part...
Izzy was a heartbroken girl who was trying to understand why her loved one made the decision to broke them ...
Maksim has his own demons to deal with... Demons that he is hiding from everyone and especially, from Izzy. He is not the same guy that he used to be and he is determined to do anything for Izzy's well-being... And the only thing for this to happen is to make her hate him...
But his heart is not always accepting the plans of his mind...
Is there still some hope for them???

"Knew my love for her could hurt her, hurt us.
I could hurt us."


I liked Maksim very much... Yep, his situation was strange, but he was determined to make anything in the name of love...
He was divided inside of him and that was killing him...
He was frustrated and it was showing....
Poor Izzy was a strong girl and she knew how to love fiercely...
She was hurt and she knew how to hold her own, but she could understand and eventually, she knew how to heal a broken mind and heart...

"Kiss me like you're saying goodbye, then hold me like you'll never let go."

I just love this crazy bunch full of unreal mobsters... even though they are unnecessary bloodthirsty...
I'm enjoying the new generation's stories and I can not wait for King's turn...
I am already very invested on his story and I need to find out everything about it....

"I met the devil last night."
"What did he tell you?"
"He said welcome home."


**An Arc was provided for the exchange of an honest review**
Profile Image for B-Books Review.
609 reviews26 followers
October 7, 2021
“Kiss me like you’re saying goodbye, then hold me like you’ll never let go. When you think it’s not hard enough, squeeze more; when your lips are swollen, keep kissing me, and when it breaks your heart into a million pieces, let me know so I can put them back again before I leave this room.”

How I missed my family… ops the Mafia Royals family. Izzy Abandonato and Maksim Sinacore were one of my most anticipated book maybe of the year. Actually any book of this series are. And all my wait paid off. Fallen Royal was pure mystery, angst, love, betrayal, family. At some point of the story I was so desperate that I didn’t know if should have cried (which I did, a lot), scream, laugh or just ask what the hell is going on.

As usual, Rachel gives us an unforgettable rollercoaster. Maks and Iz have grown up together and they fell in love at the first insect. They shared the love for sciences or math, their brains and hearts were always for each other. “Until my heart stops beating.” But he was living a double life, one that he didn’t share with her or basically no one else. He had a role to play at the mafia family.

Maksim made my heart ache so many times, I’ve cried at some of them and other I just wanted to hit him in the head. At the other side there’s Izzy, she is incredible, she surprised me with her strength, love, compassion and she gave as good as she got. His a$$holery wouldn’t be forgiven and her comeback at times made me laugh out loud.

I was totally not expecting the twists and turns at the end. I was surprised, shocked and when the meaning finally hit my mind I positively in awe. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest that you read the whole series first, because some events will have a bigger meaning if you do. Now for the love of god can we have King’s book tomorrow?
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,741 reviews1,322 followers
October 5, 2021
***AVAILABLE NOW***

5 STARS

I love every single thing about this standalone, second generation series. The characters in all their insane glory hold my heart. I love their family bond, I love the couples, and I love the unique and interest storylines Rachel Van Dyken continues to give us.

Maksim. I was not prepared for him. He loved Izzy so fiercely, willing to sacrifice it all for her. His struggle to love her from afar had me on the verge of tears time and again. His internal conflict felt so real to me, and I would imagine it is a conflict that many will relate to. I absolutely loved watching him embrace the darkness in the end, finally seeing him find happiness and find a home in Izzy's arms.

Izzy is great! I loved her character. She is spitfire, who very similar to Serena, didn't take crap from Maksim. She had no issues putting him in his place. What truly made me love her as a heroine is the way she love Maks. She accepted him for who he was, the darkness as well as the science loving kid she met so long ago. They were absolutely perfect for one another.

The plot of this story was fantastic. We had the internal conflict of Maksim, the romantic conflict of Izzy and Maks, and then the impending threat from the outside family. All of these pieces were woven together into a plot that kept me turning the pages. I rarely, if ever, read a book in a day anymore...but this one. I couldn't stop reading it. It was an emotional, heartbreaking, and beautiful story.

Mafia Royals, along with the Eagle Elite series, continues to be one of my top mafia recommendations. Rachel Van Dyken delivers every single time without fail. I will be anxiously awaiting King's book, although I secretly never want this world to end.

ARC review
Profile Image for Leah City of Words and Pages.
589 reviews281 followers
April 18, 2022
Für den vierten Band habe ich deutlich länger gebraucht, weil er mir auch nicht so gut gefallen hat wie die ersten drei Teile.
Der Anfang war wieder sehr stark und einnehmend, aber danach wurde es immer verwirrender und auch unrealistisch. Leider nicht ganz meine Story.
Ich hoffe, dass mich der letzte Band wieder mehr überzeugen kann!
88 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2021
I just finished this amazing book and have no words! Makism and Izzy have such a unique story that I could not see how it would end! It was an emotional ride! Well done!
Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,134 reviews601 followers
December 8, 2021
ok. This was intense. I wasn’t expecting Fallen Royal to be so suspenseful. Alright, I knew it was going to be intense because hello! It’s Maksim! No son of Andrei is going to be BASIC.

I don’t think I have read a book quite like Fallen Royal. I was expecting it to be good considering it’s an RVD mafia romance but this one, this one took it to a whole new level and I am beyond impressed.

Izzy and Maksim’s story is angsty and heartbreaking. Their story is filled the so much tension and I was loving every moment of it. I adored their friendship, I loved their chemistry and I was rooting for this forbidden romance to the max.

Fallen Royal was a stellar read. It was emotional, sad, sexy, crazy mad and I cannot recommend it enough.

Psst…the secondary characters..This family is everything. EVERYTHING.
October 5, 2021
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊: FALLEN ROYAL.
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: DARKCONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄: MAFIA ROMANCE, SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE.
𝐓𝐘𝐏𝐄: STANDALONE (BOOK #4 IN THR MAFIA ROYAL SERIES: SECOND GENERATION TO EAGLE ELITE)...
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: RACHEL VAN DYKEN.
𝐏𝐎𝐕: FIRST PERSON: DUAL PERSPECTIVE.
𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓:🤠🤠🤠🤠
𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆:🌏🌏🌏🌏
𝐄𝐘𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑:🦋🦋🦋🦋

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄:
I know I have said this for every book in this series...but I just had an intervention with this book and THIS BOOK BY FAR IS THE BEST ONE IN THIS SERIES...
I was all about Ash, Junior and other Heirs...and Maksim always was a background character to me, so when I got the news of Izzy and him getting a book, I didn't expect it to be this good. Like this is totally mind blowing.  Seriously, this book proved to me that the quiet ones always have a lot to say...Maksim and Izzy's story has to be distinctive and memorable.

Maksim and Izzy have dived into the pool of love before even understanding the depths of it...but nevertheless their love is pure. Until the dark and dangerous world of Mafia tainted it for good.

Izzy Abandonato, she was crazy good, sarcastic, sassy and so strong hearted... Maksim seriously wrecked my world...i am going to be comparing every hero with him in my future...seriously the twists in gave in this story...I am still shocked shocked my core.

This book has everything...like great chemistry, swoonworthy Characters...the author's writing flowed so smoothly that it had me literally hooked to my Kindle for hours. AND that suspense and twists!!! It won me over!

Omgg guys!! If you have even a slight admiration to the dark Romance genre then this is a must read. Like you won't help but fall for this couple who will fight to the end of the world for their love...enemies as well as their family...

BLOOD IN...NO OUT!!🔥🖤
Profile Image for queen_of_the_books_18.
844 reviews223 followers
October 1, 2021
“Until my heart stops beating until darkness falls—I’m just as much yours as you are mine.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Rachel Van Dyken is a phenomenal writer but her best work is her mafia books and that is proven once again by Fallen Royal.

RVD never fails to bring the laughter and the pain. She will have you laughing so hard you have stomach ache and in the next breath have you sobbing so hard you can’t see the pages. I don’t know how she does it, it’s a talent.

Fallen Royal can be read as a stand alone but for a better reading experience so you know all of the characters (and just because the Eagle Elite series is one of my all time favourite re-reads) you should at least read the second gen mafia books first if not all of the Eagle Elite Series (you can thank me later)

Maksim and Izzy. What can I say about these two. These two were so quiet in the previous books, slowly bubbling away in the corners so I did not expect their story to be so god damn heartbreaking and when I say heart breaking I mean I haven’t felt this level of pain since I read Elude (If you know, you know)

Once again Rachel Van Dyken has written my favourite Mafia book and has left me wanting her to release the next one tomorrow!
Profile Image for The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha).
1,943 reviews336 followers
October 10, 2021
WTF did I just read?!? There is a lot to unpack with this book. A lot. Nikoli was making things worse, Jenna isn't Jenna...Seriously, WTF!

There isn't much I can say that isn't a spoiler because this book just smacks you right from the start. I do think that you need to read the previous books in the Mafia Royals series to understand this one. It isn't a hardship though because it is a great series.
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,337 reviews358 followers
October 3, 2021
You are going to hate Rachel Van Dyken and then love in Fallen Royal. I don't know how she comes up with these torturing plots or deliver heartbreaking angsty emotions in a blood stained violent mafia romance every single time. But we readers are blessed and you cannot miss this epic romance at all.

The mafia families are so much more than their shared criminal lives. They have a bond of love, loyalty, friendship, affection, trust and everything. Maksim Sinacore and Izzy Abandonato have loved each other since childhood. Even when their parents didn't approve. But something happened. And Maksim is no longer that lighthearted charming boy. He made a choice. And Izzy cannot understand why Maksim is breaking her heart over and over again.

The plot of this story comes from a real mastermind. I was going crazy trying to figure out what is happening with Maksim. Now I had an advantage of being a Psychiatrist so my guess was very close. But you will be dragged through emotional hell. God with every second generation story, it's getting harder to select my favourite. Maksim..the sweet guy and the nice guy and then to see him getting engulfed by darkness and getting fractured was just hit after hit to my poor heart. And then there is adorable and fierce Izzy. God I love this girl and my heart broke for her over and over again! Their connection made me break and cry and I am just over the moon for the way they found their way back to each other. It was one hell of rollercoaster full of angst, blood, tears and ultimate healing!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for Amour.Rebelle92 (Bran.d).
1,055 reviews11 followers
October 5, 2021
Is shook still a thing?! Because Y’ALL I AM SHOOK! I can’t even imagine what Rachel’s search history looks like lol😳👀

No spoilers…{gulp} Maksim will break you in the best way. Gah his struggle☹️ and the way he is with Izzy! He is both equally sweet & foolish. The way he wants to protect her memories of him is sweet but the way he goes about it deserves a thump on the head 😏

As always…the texts are LMAO funny. Poor Nikolai!! 🤣🤣

And I totally get the Shibari FB post now 🥰

Fave quotes:
‘This book will make you laugh because Maksim has such an amazing personality. You might shed a few tears in between—going, what the heck am I reading? I’m not gonna lie a few times, I was like, what the heck am I writing?’—-yep I know from Rachel’s notes this was going to be quite the ride!!

‘She always makes me react. Because I love her. Because I hate her too. Because she drives me insane. Yet makes me calm. She’s my storm.’—-only your person can bring out so many emotions ❤️

“A wise man once said he’d earn me the rest of his life,” I teased. “Damn it, now I have to compete against myself too?” He picked me up and twirled me around, once, twice. I’d needed those two twirls after nearly losing him. “I love you.”—-😭❤️🥰
Profile Image for Meegz Reads.
1,446 reviews121 followers
October 5, 2021
*4 Stars*

ARC kindly received for an honest review.

Um, wow. This was a ride! It had all of the Eagle Elite intensity, and so much intrigue and mystery, and I just didn't know what on earth was going on half the time haha. I was very intrigued about finding out the truth of the situation and what was happening.

This is a really hard book for me to review - it's hard to talk about without spoiling things. I was invested and couldn't put it down.

If you're an RVD fan, and an EE fan, then hop on for the ride! Looking forward to the next book!

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Profile Image for Aundi Living That Book Life.
654 reviews60 followers
October 1, 2021
5 Until My Heart Stops Beating Stars

Wow…….. Just wow. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what to say in this review but I’m coming up completely dumbstruck. This story is so unlike anything I’ve read in such a long time. The pure unadulterated emotions that RVD immaculately layered throughout, will without a doubt bring you to your knees. RVD effortlessly reaches into your heart and rips it from your chest leaving you a blithering mess of feelings, sensations and an emptiness that can only be filled by her words. I was not prepared for Maksim but honestly I don’t think there’s any way that you could be.

I’m not going to say much in this review, I’m going to keep it short and sweet because this book is an entire mood. The emotions that RVD rips from you and the experience that this book provides will be tainted if you go into it in any other way other than blind. But know and trust where she is taking you. Maksim’s journey is not an easy one, it’s heartbreaking and real. It will hurt and it will destroy, but it will rebuild and it will heal. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year! RVD has out done herself with the experience that is Fallen Royal.

Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
Profile Image for Sophie Ruthven.
1,964 reviews139 followers
October 3, 2021
I have tried to write this review many times but keep coming up blank on what to say that won't ruin anything.
Imagine all the curse words are being inserted here. As wow what a journey this book takes you on, my head, heart and soul feel like they have been through a meat grinder more than once.
This book was not an easy read but I think the author handled it perfectly (even if she gave her readers heart attacks along the way).
Normally I write long winded ranty reviews after a book like this but you need to experience this first hand so not going to say anything more about characters or plot but I'd advise going into this with a bottle of tequila.
This was SO close to hitting my top reads of '21 list, so do yourself a favor and one click immediately, you definitely won't regret it.
October 10, 2021
This book deserves so much more than a handful of stars!!

"Sometimes all we can choose is certain death and hope the people we care about will stay by our side....until the end. Until darkness falls."

Wow...just wow Rachel Van Dyken never fails to amaze me and damn did this story do just that!
Whatever you think your going to get from this book think again because your not even close!!

An absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful story that guts you to the core,I haven't cried this much due to a RVD book since "two twirls" and wow did I love it, get ready to feel all the feels and so much more !

"Until my heart stops beating until darkness falls-- I'm just as much yours as you are mine"

Complete perfection 💜
Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
2,841 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2021
ARC received for an honest review

Holy sh!tballs Rachel Van Dyken! What did I just read??

This is RVD sitting at home as we read
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I have been waiting for Maksim's story and wow, what a story it was

Right from the beginning I was "what the heck is going on here?"

This is a story that I feel that you need to go into quite blind, so I won't go into too much detail as you need to feel all the feels for yourself,

Izzy and Maksim wrecked me emotionally, and I am not afraid to say that I cried a bit reading this one.

And don't get me started on the plot twist! Say whaaaaat?? I know the next book is coming in December, but man I need to know what is happening there now!

Also, I never thought I would ever say this about my love Chase Abandonato, by my love, I don't think I like you at the moment. However I know that will pass lolol

I can't wait until the next Mafia Royals book.



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Profile Image for Rachel.
1,488 reviews26 followers
October 5, 2021
4.5+ stars

She was the math geek, a mafia princess protected from the worst of what her family was involved in. Her innocence was unique in their world - her ability to block out the bad and only see the good.

He was the science lover, questioning all things he saw, dedicated to protecting Izzy and avoiding the worst of the violence of the families - he didn’t want to become a monster. They have been together since childhood, despite the rules the families put in place. Her father may not have liked it, but Maksim wasn’t one to deny Izzy anything she wanted, except when the darkness became real for him. To protect Izzy from the worst, he tried to push her away, to keep her safe.

There was a lot of back and forth between these two, ramping up the angst and drama in a way I wasn’t completely expecting. Maksim, at his core, still wants Izzy to live the happy life she deserves and as time has passed he has decided he is not what she needs. I love the strong personalities that these families encourage. Even Izzy, who is seen as not one of the core who will carry on the family business, knows what she wants and is willing to fight to get it.

As this second generation series has developed, the plots have continued to surprise me with the creativity and unique situations that RVD is able to craft. I was so surprised by a few of the elements that came about as part of the storyline and even now that the plot has sat in my head for a couple of days I keep circling back to the a-ha moments amazed that I was as off guard as I was. The final book in the series is teased and once again, I cannot wait to see what is in store for King as bits of his situation come into play here and I am looking forward to finding what twists his story has in store.

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Profile Image for Krystal.
1,166 reviews32 followers
October 4, 2021
This story was ....... interesting. It is definitely one of those stories that draws you in, but just when you think you know what is happening, Rachel throws in a curveball that you didn't see coming.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Maksim and Izzy, it was easy to see their friendship even when he was purposely being a jerk to her (in his mind he was doing it to protect her). However, I do wish we could have seen more romance between them and less of the angsty back and forth. It made me start to wonder why she didn't give him one good jab with a sharp knife.

I also enjoyed seeing the old familiar faces from prior novels (I mean who doesn't love an old-fashioned family dinner where someone is getting a plate of pasta dumped down their pants)?

"We live for today because we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. That's how we deal with it. We live." - Fallen Royal Chapter 9.

This book was also emotional in a lot of ways, touching on the subject of death and what that means for the people left behind (this IS the mafia after all, and they do run the risk of having a shorter than normal lifespan). I will say that when reading certain areas of this story I was brought very close to tears having some quotes hit hard.

"Life is not about holding good cards, but or playing a poor hand well." - Fallen Royal Chapter 8.

However, this story does require you to suspend reality as well and just go with the flow. And while I can't say more without giving away spoilers, I will say that this story does touch on a subject that some people might find.... triggering for lack of a better word. I wish I could properly articulate what I'm trying to say, but sadly I can't without giving away a major plotline.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Catreena.
357 reviews64 followers
October 5, 2021
FALLEN ROYAL
Mafia Royals #4
Rachel Van Dyken
Releases 5th Oct


POV:Dual                                  🦋His anchor⚓
Maksim & Izzy

#arc #arcreader #amreading #currentlyreading #reader #reviewer #MafiaRoyalsRomance #mafiaromance #lies #heartache #mafia #friendstolovers #eagleelite #nextgeneration #EE #BloodInNoOut #allthefeels


OMG! I loved this! Amazing! Ugly cried, yet again. Rachel just brings all the feels, you're responsible for tissues, beverage of choice.
You're laughing one minute, crying the next.

If you're familiar with RVD, you'll know what you're getting yourself into. If not, don't worry, you can read this as a standalone, there's a who's who introduction. But best enjoyed read in order.

Rachel just gets better with every book
This is the fourth book of the Mafia Royals Romance, next generation heirs.

Izzy Abandonato is Chase Abandonato, US Senator, Assassin, 'Scary Dad' middle daughter and Asher's twin.  Mafia royalty, one of the most powerful families of the Five Families, Italian mafia crime syndicate. She's quiet, unless provoked, math nerd, tech support of the family.
She's loved Maksim since they were kids.

Maksim Sinacore, Russian Italian, his father, Andrei Petrov, Russian, also Sinacore, one of the oldest families of the Five Families, Cosa Nostra, next in line. Huge flirt, science nerd, has been love with Izzy since he can remember. He doesn't feel like he belongs, he's got issues with himself. He's a lover, not a fighter. But will protect anyone he loves fiercely.
They've managed to steal moments here and there. Nothing official. Due to one of the rules the parents... the bosses insist upon, no dating among the heirs.

It hurts and breaks her everytime she sees him with another girl, especially when he comes up with fake apologies.
He's got to keep Izzy at arms length. He doesn't believe that he's good for her. He hates that he's hurting her. It's for the best.. isn't it?
Will she let him push her away?
She's noticed a change in him. Will that be the push for her to move on?
There's enemies everywhere and they've got too close for comfort.

Maksim is the funny one, uses banter to lighten situations. Even with the bosses, it's hilarious. The back and forth, the insults are great, the family dinners are entertaining, the text group, they're brilliant, they're loyal, blood, friendship, family, they've got each other's backs.
Ash is all 'My Sister!' again, but this time, it's his twin.

Can't wait for King, son of the Capo's book is next.

*Arc provided for an honest review*
Profile Image for Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora).
2,170 reviews293 followers
October 5, 2021
Rate: 4,5/ 5 stars

Goodness gracious!! I was not expecting this book to be as emotional as it was. My heart broke more and more with every chapter I read. My mind was in chaos trying to understand what was really going on. It was insane.

Rachel really had me mind blown with the plot of this book. My emotions were all over the place. It was maddening, it was sad, it was sexy, it was so emotional and f*cked up.

And when we finally learned the truth, what really was going on with our hero... holy s*it balls! I was not expecting that nor was I expecting what happened next but man it was epic and made so much sense for these two characters. It made the book an even more amazing book and it just showed how much these two characters really loved each other. It was honestly beautiful. And I'm so glad that they were able to find a solution and be together in a way that worked for everyone, specially Maksim.

And the plotlines we got for the next and final book in the series, boy oh boy!! I want it now. Cannot wait to see how those two are gonna be together!

➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

➳ Order at: Amazon US

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